Here are a few songs that can help people make sacred space together. The commentaries give some useful ideas about kavanah – focus and intentionality. Ashrei Yoshvei Veitecha – ‘Happy are those who dwell in your house’ Elohai N’shamah (Ber. 60b) – ‘My God, the soul You have given me is pure.’ (easy 3 part …
Here are a few bits of free sheet music as PDFs to download. Some of the pieces are my transcriptions of music that is in the public domain and/or out of copyright. Others are my own pieces which you are welcome to download and distribute. You’ll see there’s a little coffee cup icon that allows …
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) …
Music and recording © Alexander Massey, 20 June 2022 BUY the sheet music (voice & piano, including lead sheet) – $4.95 Just over two years ago, I wrote a penitential, yearning setting of this text, inspired by a conversation with Rabbi Anne Brener. Just recently, I have been studying the books and lectures of Rabbi …
Adonai Adonai No.2 (13 attributes of compassion) Read More »
Music and Audio © 2022 Alexander Massey – All Rights Reserved BUY the sheet music (voice & piano, including lead sheet) – $4.95 Psalm 27, verses 1 & 4 ;הוָה, אוֹרִי וְיִשְׁעִי–מִמִּי אִירָא .יְהוָה מָעוֹז-חַיַּי, מִמִּי אֶפְחָד :אַחַת, שָׁאַלְתִּי מֵאֵת-יְהוָה– אוֹתָהּ אֲבַקֵּשׁ ;שִׁבְתִּי בְּבֵית-יְהוָה, כָּל-יְמֵי חַיַּי .לַחֲזוֹת בְּנֹעַם-יְהוָה, וּלְבַקֵּר בְּהֵיכָלוֹ Translation God is my light …
These are my favourites! Comins, Mike (2010) Making Prayer Real: leading Jewish voices on what prayer is difficult and what to do about it Grishaver, Joel Lurie (2012) Stories We Pray: insights into the inner work of Jewish worship Rosenberg, Arnold S. (1997/2004) Jewish Liturgy as a Spiritual System: a prayer-by-prayer explanation of the nature …
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 …
Composition & audio © Alexander Massey 29 Nov 2020 BUY the sheet music (Voice & piano/guitar) – $4.95
A nigun is, at its simplest, any melody. However, in my own music, I use this word only when it is wordless, and, most importantly is carefully structured to take the singer(s) and listener(s) on an emotional and spiritual journey, shaped with a specific intention. I have written much more about this in my articles, …
Music and recording © Alexander Massey 18 July 2020 – All Rights Reserved BUY the sheet music (3 vces & guitar) – $2.95 A musical meditation on the morning blessing for moving mindfully through the world. A familiar translation is: “Blessed are you, O Lord, our God, king of the universe, who makes firm the steps of …
Hameichin Mitzadei Gaver (‘… who makes our steps firm’) Read More »