The Shofar Maker
Blow The Trumpet in Zion
Tekiah A straight trumpet like blast. Described in the Mishnah (Tractate Rosh Hashanah 4:9) as signifying kingship - a major theme of Rosh Hashanah.
Teruah Nine staccato notes blown in rapid succession, similar to the wail of a person crying in short bursts. According to one rabbinic interpretation, it represents a plea for mercy at the upcoming trial - another major theme of Rosh Hashanah. It is also a call to arise like an alarm bell.
Shevarim Three short notes (each three beats long), reflecting an alternative rabbinic interpretation that Teruah should be a moan, not a cry. Shevarim means "broken"
Tekiah Gedolah (The Great Blast) ! A long drawn out note concluding each set of blowing during the Rosh Hashanah ceremony. The rabbis described it as a sign of "divine withdrawal", based on the verse: "When the Shofar sounds long, they [the people] shall come up to the mountain..." (Exodus 19:13).
Traditionally, one hundred notes are sounded during the Rosh Hashanah service. There are two main series of shofar blasts, each consisting of a number of sets.
Each variation of the Teruah is preceded and followed by a Tekiah, repeated three times (see Talmud, Rosh Hashanah 33b). In the order of blowing at least three sets of shofar blasts are sounded, since the word Teruah appears three times in the Torah.