The United Synagogue has marked the Coronation on Saturday week by commissioning a new melody for Adon Olam, the hymn that traditionally concludes the Shabbat morning service.
The tune has been composed by Stephen Levey, former director of the Shabbaton Choir, and can be heard for the first time in a video released on major digital platforms today.
It is performed by 200 children from five Jewish schools with strings and orchestration provided by a Ukraine-based ensemble.
The new setting was arranged by the Portnoy Brothers - Mendy and Israel - Jerusalem and New York-based musicians whose most recent album was No Complaints.
Jo Grose, the United Synagogue’s chief executive, said: “While the world has changed dramatically since we were founded in 1870, two constants throughout our 153-year history have been the recital every week in our shuls of the Prayer for the Royal Family and ending our services with Adon Olam.
The United Synagogue is delighted therefore to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III with this new version of Adon Olam.
“Adon Olam is often sung by the young members of our community so we're particularly pleased to have brought together some 200 children from across our Jewish schools to perform with the Portnoy Brothers.”
Adon Olam
Anthony Broza, chief executive of music distributor Wienerworld, which helped the children to learn and record the new melody, said the company was “very proud” to have worked on the project.
“King Charles III has always been a stalwart personal friend to the Jewish community. We hope that this new recording of Adon Olam will act as further recognition of the community’s affection for the Royal Family and our gratitude that Jews can observe their customs and traditions safely and openly in the UK,” he said.
The recording includes members of the preparatory school and year-8 boys' choirs of Immanuel College in Bushey, where Mr Levey is director of music.
"We are thrilled to be a part of this historic recording of Adon Olam," he said. "It is a privilege to work with such talented musicians and singers from the Jewish community, and we hope that this new adaptation will bring joy and inspiration to all who hear it."
A video of his setting of Oseh Shalom, composed to mark Israel’s 50th anniversary in 2008 and starring Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks, has enjoyed more than three million hits on YouTube.
