Music and audio © 2 Dec 2023 Alexander Massey – All Rights Reserved אֱלהַי נְשָמָה שֶנָתַתָ בִי טְהורָה הִיא נֵר יְהוָה, נִשְמַת אָדָם חֹפֵשׂ, כָל-חַדְרֵי-בָטֶן כִי-אַתָה, תָאִיר נֵרִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהַי, יַגִיהַ חָשְכִי Ch: My God, the soul you have given me is pure. [Berachot 60b, morning prayer] 1: The soul of a person is the […]
Here is the programme that Matthew Faulk and I performed on 26 June 2023 to the Oxford group of the Council of Christians and Jews. Good evening, and welcome. Many of tonight’s song lyrics are from texts shared by Jews and Christians: there are seven psalms, two passages from Exodus, and one from Jeremiah. From
CCJ Oxford Soirée (June 2023) Read More »
Music and audio © 1 May 2023 Alexander Massey “Seek the peace—the shalom—of the city, and pray to God for it: for in its shalom, you shall all have shalom.” (Jer. 29:7) In Hebrew, the word ‘peace’ is shalom. The first letter of shalom is shin, which, for us, represents fire, and the final letter
V’dirshu et shalom ha’ir – Seek the peace of the city Read More »
The Cantors Assembly in the USA has a wonderful monthly online gathering called SongSwap, showcasing liturgical songs and songwriters, and the methods and songs of cantors working with congregations around the country. The theme for January 2023 was ‘Songs for Social Justice in Honour of Martin Luther King (MLK) Day’. Looking through my own catalogue,
Social justice songs Read More »
Music & Audio © 4 Nov 2022 Alexander Massey – All Rights Reserved I believe in the sun, even though all around be dark. I believe in God, even though he be silent. I believe in love, even when love must hide. [English lyrics: Alexander Massey] The original text on which this song is based
Contemplative version, with guitar Version with piano, tango style Music, English translation and audio © 18 July 2022 Alexander Massey Dedicated to my dear uncle, Paul Massey (z’l), who died on 12 July 2022. BUY the sheet music – $4.95 (voice & piano/guitar) The poem that has become known as Dudeleh (also as A dudele)
Dudeleh (Ribono Shel Olam) Read More »
Arrangement & Audio © 2022 Alexander Massey The events unfolding in Ukraine since February 2022 have been horrifying. I am so sad to see the disregard for the lives and human rights of Ukrainian people, and the destruction of the country and its natural environment. It can be hard, sitting in another country, to find
Oseh Shalom – Ukrainian lullaby tune Read More »
Music and audio © 2021 Alexander Massey (You can download the sheet music for free.) Galut – ‘exile’ – has been a recurring theme through Jewish history. We have been expelled from many countries over the centuries. I don’t ascribe to the idea that Jerusalem belongs exclusively to Jews any more than it does to
Nigun Galut (‘Exile’) Read More »
YouTube version. Better recording coming soon. In the meantime, here is the sheet music (free). Music and audio © Alexander Massey 24 August 2021
Baruch Atah, B’ruchah At (Blessed Shall You Be) Read More »