Music and audio © Alexander Massey 10 June 2019 Download the free sheet music (voice & optional piano or guitar) This was composed for a Psalms Concert for the Society for Old Testament Study Conference in July 2019. These verses are an important part of Yom Kippur liturgy, with the themes of sin and mercy, […]
Barchi Nafshi (Bless God, O My Soul) Read More »
Here are many pieces I’ve written for High Holy Days over the years. Some texts appear several times in the season, throughout the month of Elul, at S’lichot, Rosh Hashanah, or on more than one occasion during Yom Kippur. Each link takes you to an audio file, written commentary, and free sheet music (Creative Commons
High Holy Days music Read More »
Music & audio © Alexander Massey, 23 March 2014 Download the free sheet music (1 or 2 voices & optional guitar chords & descant) 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
Nigun Oneg (Nigun of Delight) 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 »
Composition and audio © Alexander Massey 13 August 2015 Download the free sheet music (voice & piano or guitar) The sheet music is also available as part of ‘Five Sacred Chants’. ןְטַהֵר לִבֵּנוּ לְעָבְדְּךָ בְּאֶמֶת “Purify our hearts, that we may serve You in truth.” When, in the morning, we say, ‘Elohai, n’shamah sh’natata bi,
V’Taheir Libeinu (Purify Our Hearts) Read More »
Composition and audio © Alexander Massey Sept 2014 Download the free sheet music (round for 2 voices & piano or guitar), with movements for accompanying circle dance I think of this chant as ‘sing as you fling’! At Rosh Hashanah, the celebration of the new year, the whole community is encouraged to a place of
Tashlich (song/round & circle dance) Read More »
We are told in the Torah: “On the first day you shall take the product of the beautiful tree, branches of palm trees, thick branches of leafy trees, and willows of the brook and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days” (Lev. 23:40) This has developed into the tradition of arba’a minim,
Sukkot matters (2): Finding meaning in the Four Species Read More »
The shaking of the Four Species, sometimes called ‘shaking the lulav’, has attracted a number of meanings over the course of Jewish history. One of these was the idea that all the four plants require water to grow, and this was a ritual to invoke the right amount of rain for the crops. I would
Sukkot matters (3): Finding meaning in shaking the lulav Read More »
Sukkot is a wonderful opportunity to reach back into our Jewish tradition, drawing upon ancient wisdom, at the same time as making new meanings for ourselves and contributing to the evolution of a living Judaism. I’m not going to give an exhaustive account of every detail, or of every ‘official’ version of the meanings of
Sukkot matters (1): Finding meaning in the sukkah Read More »
Listen/watch song on YouTube Composition and audio © Alexander Massey 15 February 2014 Download the free sheet music (vocal duet) The fun of this song is all in the lyrics (printed below). First, the chorus loses more words each time it happens, and, by doing so, gradually reveals the differences between the four children: In Chorus
The Four Children (song) Read More »