אוֹר, זָרֻעַ לַצַּדִּיק, וּלְיִשְׁרְי לֵב שִׂמְחָה
“Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.” (Ps. 97:11)
In 2020, over one 24-hour period, I composed these two very different settings of Or Zarua – one lyrical and contemplative for Yom Kippur, and the other celebratory for Shabbat. Here are the two settings, set side by side, with their commentaries. On reflection, I think they could both be sung on either occasion – drawing out aspects of each day that might not immediately be apparent.
Or Zarua No.1
Music and audio © November 2022 – Download the free sheet music (voice & piano)
This text is used at the start of Kol Nidrei. At Kol Nidrei, we wrestle with the darkness in ourselves, and hope to sow perhaps just a few seeds of light. When we get to the words yishrei leiv, the ‘straight and upright in heart’, we have won that battle; in the song, you’ll hear the music surge upwards at that point. You’ll also hear that the initial words are repeated at the end; this song is not so much about reaching the light, but reaching for it. The mood of this music can also draw us into the quiet joy that we can feel when we rest on Shabbat, and connect with God, community and family – it’s almost a lullaby.
Or Zarua No.2
Music and audio © November 2022 Alexander Massey – Download the free sheet music (voice & piano or guitar)
The words of this text bring in the joy and relaxation of Shabbat on a Friday evening, or Saturday morning. 16th century Spanish mystics created the Friday evening rituals we know today. I modelled this celebratory dance on Sephardi music as a homage to those mystics. One of the names for Yom Kippur is the ‘Sabbath of Sabbaths’ – it is the day when we take the deepest rest of all in the loving arms of God. It’s a beautiful idea that the day atones for us, and that we can start the challenging 24-hour period of fasting and prayers with this joyful feeling that we are already loved and forgiven.