Music and audio © Alexander Massey 20 Oct 2014 BUY the sheet music – $4.50 (2 copies @ $2.25) Havayah, Sh’chinah, Adonai,S’fatai tiftach,Ufi yagid t’hilatecha. All-That-Is-Was-And-Shall-Be, In-Dwelling Presence, Yah,Open my lips, And my mouth will declare Your Praise. For many years, I have joined with my community to say the Amidah, beginning it with the verse from Ps […]
Havayah S’fatai Tiftach (chant) Read More »
Music and recording © Alexander Massey 19 May 2016 BUY the sheet music (2 vces & pno) – $6.75 (3 copies @ $2.25) The sheet music is also available as part of ‘Five Sacred Chants’. “You have all been shown what is good, and what God seeks from you. Do justice, love kindness, and walk
‘You have all been shown’ – its music and meaning Read More »
Music and recording © Alexander Massey 11 March 2015 BUY the sheet music – $4.50 (3 copies @ $1.50) The sheet music is also available as part of ‘Five Sacred Chants’. אֱלהַי נְשָׁמָה שֶׁנָּתַתָּ בִּי טְהורָה הִיא Elohai, n’shamah shenatata bi, t’horah hi. My God, the soul You have given me is pure. The Talmud
Elohai N’shamah – its music and meaning Read More »
‘Five Sacred Chants’ is an 11-page sheet music set of simple rounds and chants for 2 or 3 voices. It includes a a 4-page introduction with an essay ‘What’s the point of chanting?’, and short commentaries on each of the five pieces. BUY the sheet music for all 5 together – $19.95 (20% discount) You
Five Sacred Chants Read More »
The focus of chants is not singing, but prayer – avodat lev (or avodah shebalev), ‘service/work of the heart’. If prayer is not a meaningful concept for you, that’s fine; chant is also a profound opportunity for inner work and mindfulness. When we chant, it is not the quality of our voice or musicianship that counts, but
What’s the point of chanting? Read More »
Music & audio © Alexander Massey, 23 March 2014 BUY the sheet music (1 or 2 vces + guitar chords) – $2.25 In Jewish life, we take joy seriously! We are reminded that, on Shabbat especially, we should be joyful, prompted by the verse from Isaiah 58:13 – “and call the Sabbath a delight [oneg]”. The
Music & audio © Alexander Massey 14 May 2016 BUY the sheet music – $1.95 The melody is based on the nusach for the haftarah blessing on shabbat morning. It has 50 notes, in honour of my friend Naomi’s 50th birthday!
Music & audio © Alexander Massey, 26 Oct 2018 BUY the sheet music – $1.95 Music’s role is often to express or explore what cannot be put into words. I wrote this nigun at a time when I found myself soul searching and questioning, and wanting to reach out to God. In turning towards God, I
Nigun Chakartani vaTeida – Nigun meditation on Psalm 139 Read More »
Composition and Audio © Alexander Massey, 26 March 2017 First performance 10 May 2017 – United for Peace – United Through Poetry – a service with readings interspersed with silent reflection and music, delivered in partnership with the Edward Cadbury Centre for the Public Understanding of Religion at the University of Birmingham. BUY the sheet
Shalom Aleichem, Aleichem Shalom Read More »
Composition and audio © Alexander Massey 20 May 2014 BUY the Modeh Ani sheet music (1 or 2 vces & pno) – $4.95 Many years ago, a good friend commented to me that I didn’t always say ‘thank you’ when it might have been appropriate. I was shocked, and embarrassed. I was convinced I was
Omer Day 7 – Malchut of Chesed Read More »