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, 19 May 2020 BUY the sheet music – $3.95 (voice & guitar, optional vocal harmonies) In May 2020, during the lockdown, I was attending a morning meditation session run by Rabbi Anne Brener in the USA (4.30pm for me in the UK!). She asked us how we were feeling, …
Music and Audio © Alexander Massey 10 April 2014 3 part round, 12 bars BUY the sheet music – $1.50 (lead sheet)
Music and Audio © Alexander Massey 16 March 2012 4 part round, 16 bars BUY the sheet music – $2.25 (lead sheet) – print as many copies as you like for your own performance, but please encourage your friends and colleagues to buy their own copies from this site.
Music and Audio © Alexander Massey 12 April 2013 I made this 2 part round up during a Saturday morning service at the end of the Amidah, after the final blessing, as an alternative to Elohai N’tzor, Yih’yu L’ratson, or Oseh Shalom. It’s simple, and instantly learnable.
Music and recording © Alexander Massey 19 May 2016 BUY the sheet music (2 vces & pno) – $6.75 (3 copies @ $2.25) The sheet music is also available as part of ‘Five Sacred Chants’. “You have all been shown what is good, and what God seeks from you. Do justice, love kindness, and walk …
‘You have all been shown’ – its music and meaning Read More »
Music and recording © Alexander Massey 11 March 2015 BUY the sheet music – $4.50 (3 copies @ $1.50) The sheet music is also available as part of ‘Five Sacred Chants’. אֱלהַי נְשָׁמָה שֶׁנָּתַתָּ בִּי טְהורָה הִיא Elohai, n’shamah shenatata bi, t’horah hi. My God, the soul You have given me is pure. The Talmud …
‘Five Sacred Chants’ is an 11-page sheet music set of simple rounds and chants for 2 or 3 voices. It includes a a 4-page introduction with an essay ‘What’s the point of chanting?’, and short commentaries on each of the five pieces. BUY the sheet music for all 5 together – $19.95 (20% discount) You …
The focus of chants is not singing, but prayer – avodat lev (or avodah shebalev), ‘service/work of the heart’. When we chant, it is not the quality of our voice or musicianship that counts, but the quality of our intention (kavanah). However advanced the musical and vocal skill in the chanting may be, and however accurate the …
Music & audio © Alexander Massey 14 May 2016 BUY the sheet music – $1.95 The melody is based on the nusach for the haftarah blessing on shabbat morning. It has 50 notes, in honour of my friend Naomi’s 50th birthday!