Here are some my musical settings that can be used for Kabbalat Shabbat. First, music for prayers and texts already in the siddur:
- Adon Olam No.1 – (recording coming soon) The refrain evokes the solemnity and grandeur of the Divine, while the verses have a more tender quality for the intimate yet yearning relationship we have with the Divine.
- Adon Olam No.2 – an energetic and upbeat setting suitable for shabbat celebration
- Ahavat Olam – a reflective setting in 3/4
- Hashkiveinu – a simple heartwarming tune, and an even simpler refrain for everyone to join in
- Kaddish – a rousing tune reflecting both the affirmation of life in the text, and the joy of shabbat
- L’chah Dodi – a gently lilting waltz; the minor first section, and the major second section mark the transition from the week into shabbat
- Mi Chamocha No.1 – a fast, fanfare-style setting, evoking the arrival of royalty (the shabbat queen/bride), and declaration of God’s sovereignty (adonai yimloch …), for 2 or 3 voices a cappella
- Mi Chamocha No.2 – a lively setting, with a catchy ‘earworm’ chorus, set to freygish mode
- Oneg Nigun – short, and catchy, congregations pick it up by ear quite quickly. Just for fun, the time signature of this nigunis 5/8, echoing that the idea of Sabbath oneg comes from chapter 58 of Isaiah!
- Or Zarua No.1 (Ps 97:11) – contemplative setting. “Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.”
- Or Zarua No.2 (Ps 97:11) – lively setting.
- Oseh Shalom No.1 – the same music as L’chah Dodi, keeping a musical thread through the service
- Shalom Aleichem Malachei – traditional text for welcoming the energy and goodwill of the shabbat angels
- Sim Shalom No.1 – a catchy refrain for everyone to join in, with solo verses in between
- Yedid Nefesh – a yearning song, suitable for solo voice, or two voices
- Yism’chu B’malchutcha – gentle and introspective
- Yism’chu Hashamayim (Ps 96:11) – energetic and fun, a real earworm!
And here is some other music that could also be used on a Friday evening:
- Ma’ariv Nigun – reflective chant for evening
- Oneg Nigun – an uplifting chant for shabbat joy (oneg)
- Shalom Aleichem, Aleichem Shalom – welcoming each other
- Simcha Song – a song of celebration, honouring happiness and sadness, and where our food comes from
- Tree of Life Nigun – meditation on ascending the Tree of Life at Shabbat
- V’asu Li Mikdash (We’ll make You a holy home) – setting the tone for sacred space
- Y’varech’cha Adonai (Priestly Blessing) – blessing over the children