Anno Mundi 5770

AT SUNDOWN last night began Rosh Hashanah, or the Jewish New Year, which began the 5770^th year since the creation of the world, according to an ancient calculation based on Biblical chronology.

In the Jewish liturgy for Rosh Hashanah, the shofar, a trumpet made from an animal horn, is blown. The Temple in Jerusalem featured a full orchestra, and even perhaps a pipe organ: but in sorrow for the destruction of the Temple, only this most ancient of musical instruments has been retained.

The shofar does not produce perfect harmonics, so its sound is distinctive: click to hear a sample.