Music and recording © Alexander Massey 22 January 2013 Here is the same music, but sung to my own English translation: Music, English lyrics and recording © Alexander Massey 22 January 2013 BUY the sheet music – $6.75 (3 copies @ $2.25) – includes options for 1 or 2 voices, piano or guitar part (also […]
Oseh Shalom No. 2 – Composition and audio © Alexander Massey, 12 Sept 2012 BUY the sheet music (solo lead sheet) – $3.95 BUY the sheet music (2 vces & pno) – $6.75 (3 copies @ $2.25) I wrote this piece originally for the Yom Kippur Musaf service. This melody is based on musical motifs
In 2012, I attended the inaugural prayer leaders’ retreat of the European Academy of Jewish Liturgy (EAJL), led by Chazan Jaclyn Chernett, Chazan Jack Kessler, Rabbi Marcia Prager, and Chazan Jalda Rebling. I was asked to lead a tisch on the Friday night, and these are the questions and resources that I created for that,
Beha’alotcha 5772 – The vocation of the ba’al tefillah (prayer leader) Read More »
Composition, lyrics and audio © Alexander Massey, 14 June 2012 BUY the sheet music (solo & pno) – $4.95 BUY the sheet music (SATB & pno) – $11.25 (5 copies @ $2.25) At first glance, Psalm 87 appears to be quite disjointed, with no clear emotional or theological point to make. While a line from it
Holy Mountain (Ps 87) Read More »
© Music and recording: Alexander Massey June 2012 BUY the sheet music – $2.25 (3 copies @ $0.75) Birchat hamazon – blessing after the meal Brich rachamana malka d’alma marei d’hai pita. (Talmud, Brachot 40b) A Fountain of Blessings is the Compassionate One, Ruler of Eternity and the concealed and revealed Universe, Master of this
Psalm 89:16-19 Composition and audio © Alexander Massey, 24 May 2012 Listen / watch on YouTube (including spoken introduction) – SOAS Interfaith Music Festival Buy the sheet music (4 equal vces + pno) – $11.25 (5 copies @ $2.25) Buy the sheet music (1, 2 or 3 voices, unaccompanied, or with guitar) – $6.75 (3 copies @
Ashrei Ha’am (Ps 89:16-19) Read More »
Psalm 86:1-7 Composition, lyrics and audio © Alexander Massey, 8 May 2012 Listen/watch song on YouTube Listen/watch nigun on youTube BUY the sheet music (solo & pno) – $4.95 Although the lyrics for this are based very closely on the first half of Psalm 86, this song was originally written as a nigun (wordless melody),
Come Down, God (Ps 86:1-7) Read More »
Psalm 92:6 Composition and audio © Alexander Massey 25 March 2012 BUY the sheet music (round – 3 vces & pno) – $9 (4 copies @ $2.25) “How great are your works, God! Your thoughts are very deep.” The morning service includes Psalm 92 Tov l’hodot (‘It is a good thing to give thanks to
Pesach 5772 / 2012 Why the ten plagues of Israel, and not Egypt? A midrashic suggestion Exodus tells the story of ten plagues that afflicted Egypt, prior to the flight of the Israelites into the desert. Why are the plagues given in such detail? Is there any allegorical meaning to be derived from the nature
The Ten Plagues of … Israel Read More »
Composition and audio © Alexander Massey, 6 March 2012 BUY the sheet music (solo & pno) – $4.95 How to encompass in one song the 42 chapters of the story of Job? There have been centuries of debate over the meaning of the Book of Job. Some remind us that the character of God in
I Am Blessed (Job) Read More »