In 2020 I composed a sombre, yearning setting of the 13 attributes (Adonai, Adonai No.1). Two years later, I composed a completely different setting (Adonai, Adonai No.2) that was filled with light and relief. Here are the two settings, set side by side, with their commentaries. For me, both settings carry equal weight in my […]
Adonai, Adonai – Two faces of the 13 Attributes Read More »
D’var Torah on Ex. 33:12-23 At Pesach[1] we are called to go ‘up’, physically and metaphorically, to journey beyond our narrowness, and dare to live in our fullness. By the time of today’s reading[2], we’ve travelled into the desert, complained many times, received the Torah, ten commandments, and detailed instructions for building the mishkan, prayed
“Let me see Your glory!” Davenen through the Four Worlds (Ki Tisa & Pesach) Read More »
The text I want to explore this Shavuot is from Proverbs 3:18 Eitz chayim hi l’machazikim [chazak] bah, v’tomcheicha meiushar –“It is a tree of life to those who hold fast to it, and whoever grasps her is happy-straight [by implication,]”. Ushar or yashar, a word literally means straight, and is usually translated as ‘happy’,
Trees, Arks, and Torah (Shavuot) Read More »
Music & audio © 2023 Alexander Massey – All Rights Reserved Download the free sheet music (voice & piano or guitar) נֵר יְהוָה, נִשְמַת אָדָם חֹפֵשׂ, כָל-חַדְרֵי-בָטֶן אֱלהַי נְשָמָה שֶנָתַתָ בִי טְהורָה הִיא כִי-אַתָה, תָאִיר נֵרִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהַי, יַגִיהַ חָשְכִי Verse 1: The soul of a person is the candle of God, that searches the
Neir Adonai No.1 (Candle of God) Read More »
Music and audio © 2 Dec 2023 Alexander Massey – All Rights Reserved Listen/view on YouTube. Download the free sheet music (voice & piano) אֱלהַי נְשָמָה שֶנָתַתָ בִיטְהורָה הִיאנֵר יְהוָה, נִשְמַת אָדָםחֹפֵשׂ, כָל-חַדְרֵי-בָטֶןכִי-אַתָה, תָאִיר נֵרִייְהוָה אֱלֹהַי, יַגִיהַ חָשְכִי Chorus: My God, the soul you have given me is pure. [Berachot 60b, morning prayer]Verse 1: The
Neir Adonai No.2 (Candle of God) Read More »
Original songs by Alexander Massey The Four Children – A fun song that use two voice parts, one very simple and repetitive. Ki L’olam Chasdo (Ps 136) – Verses from the Great Hallel, including refrains that I very quick for people to pick up around the seder table. Oseh Shalom (Ukraine lullaby) – When the
Traditional words and music, arranged for voice and piano by Alexander Massey © 2022 Download the free sheet music (arranged for voice & piano) This day, give us strength. Amen.This day, give us blessing. Amen.This day, show us greatness. Amen.This day, be good to us. Amen.This day, hear our prayer. Amen.This day, give us an
Hayom, Hayom (arrangement) Read More »
Traditional words and music, arranged for voice and piano by Alexander Massey © 2022 Download the free sheet music (voice) Why is this night different from all the other nights … … that on all other nights we eat both chametz and matzah,on this night, we eat only matzah? … that on all other nights we eat
Mah Nishtanah (arrangement) Read More »
Traditional words and music, arranged by Alexander Massey © 2022 [We thank you] For the miracles, for the deliverance, for the mighty deeds and saving acts, as well as for the wars which you waged for our ancestors, in days of old, at this season.
Al Hanisim (arrangement) Read More »
Traditional words and music arranged by Alexander Massey for voice and piano © 2022 Hayom, Hayom (Rosh Hashanah) Al Hanisim (Chanukah) Mah Nishtanah (Pesach)
Three Festival Songs Read More »