The following narrative is taken from the book “Your People Shall Be My People”, by Don Finto.
The fall feasts begin with Rosh HaShanah (Feast of Trumpets, literally meaning "head of the year"). The shofar (trumpet) is blown to usher in the Beginning of the civil year and to begin the Ten Days of Awe from Rosh HaShanah to Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). This is a time of introspection and self-examination as we anticipate the trumpet sounds that will announce the Lord's arrival (see 1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thess. 4:16,17; Rev. 10:7;11:15).
The following was taken from the book “Enter His Gates To Your Jewish Roots”, by Susan Marcus.
The shofar, or ram's horn, is a unique form of instrument. Although individual notes on a scale cannot be played on it, the combinaion use of long and short blasts can form a melody of sorts.
It can be long and curled or short wih jus a hint of a curve. The natural and polished finishes give a beautiful patina o each shofar. You will never find two exactly alike.
In Biblical days, the shofar was used in a variety of ways: The first and most important was to announce the onset of the beginning of the Sabbath and holidays. This was in pre-calendar days when people couldn't always be sure when the festival would begin.
It would be used at the coronation of a king, or as a sound to rally to battle. It was used by Gideon (Judges 6 & 7)
to confound he enemy, the Midianites, who so outnumbered Gideon's 300 men. It was used by Joshua to bring down he walls of Jericho!
The first reference we have of the use of the shofar in Scripture is when God called Moses to the summi of Mt. Sinai.
Today, the most important time of the year to use the shofar is at the New Year, Rosh HaSanah. In fact, one name for Rosh HaShanah is theDay of the Blowing of the Shofar. On this day it is blown 100 times in a prescribed order.
There are three basic "notes" to the shofar. "Tekiah" is a long, drawn out sound.
"Shevarim" is a broken series of sounds. Finally, "T'ruah" is a series of sharp, staccato bursts.
On the holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur, the Day of Repentance, the shofar is blown only once, at the end of the 25 hour fast.
Click here to see more photos from Rosh HaSanah 2007, The Feast of Trumpets in the Tent of Meeing.