ANNA BEḲORENU (
):
By: Francis L. Cohen
A Pizmon for the Eve of Atonement, according to the Sephardic ritual, taking the place occupied by "Omnam Ken" and "Ki Hinneh Ka-ḥomer" in the ritual of the Ashkenazim. It is a prayerful hymn by David Ibn Bekodah (twelfth century, Zunz, "Literaturgeschichte," p. 217), who obviously intended it for antiphonal rendering between ḥazan and congregation. The traditional melody is of ancient Spanish origin, and of considerable interest in itself for its construction and rhythm. It possesses a flavor of Arab melody, better preserved in the version given on next page, which is that of Bevis Marks, than in the Italian traditional chant.
