Kol Nidre, Opus 39

work by Schoenberg

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June 30, 2026

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The Kol Nidre, an Aramaic phrase meaning "All Vows," is a significant prayer recited in Jewish synagogues on the eve of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. It expresses repentance for unfulfilled vows made to God.1

The composer Arnold Schoenberg (1874–1951) created a musical composition titled Kol Nidre, Opus 39, in 1938. This work is for mixed chorus, speaker, and orchestra, and it utilizes the traditional melody of the Kol Nidre prayer. Schoenberg, an influential Austrian-American composer, is known for developing new methods of musical composition, including atonality and the 12-tone row. While the Kol Nidre prayer has ancient origins and has been set to music by various composers, Schoenberg's rendition is notable for its incorporation of this sacred melody into his distinct compositional style.21

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Arnold Schoenberg
Evolution from tonality of Arnold Schoenberg
…of particular Jewish interest, including Kol Nidre for mixed chorus, speaker, and orchestra, Op. 39 (1938)—the Kol Nidre is a prayer sung in synagogues at the beginning of the service on the eve of Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)—and the Prelude to the “Genesis Suite” for orchestra and mixed chorus,…
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…of particular Jewish interest, including Kol Nidre for mixed chorus, speaker, and orchestra, Op. 39 (1938)—the Kol Nidre is a prayer sung in synagogues at the beginning of the service on the eve of Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)—and the Prelude to the “Genesis Suite” for orchestra and mixed chorus,…
Read More