The focus of chants is not singing, but prayer – avodat lev (or avodah shebalev), ‘service/work of the heart’. If prayer is not a meaningful concept for you, that’s fine; chant is also a profound opportunity for inner work and mindfulness. When we chant, it is not the quality of our voice or musicianship that counts, but […]
What’s the point of chanting? Read More »
Music & audio © Alexander Massey 14 May 2016 Download the free sheet music (voice & piano) 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!
Nigun Naomi (for Shabbat morning) Read More »
Music & audio © Alexander Massey, 26 Oct 2018 Download the free sheet music Music’s role is often to express or explore what cannot be put into words. I wrote this nigun at a time when I found myself soul searching and questioning, and wanting to reach out to God. In turning towards God, I felt
Nigun Chakartani vaTeida (You Have Searched Me Out and Known Me) Read More »
Composition and Audio © Alexander Massey, 26 March 2017 First performance 10 May 2017 – United for Peace – United Through Poetry – a service with readings interspersed with silent reflection and music, delivered in partnership with the Edward Cadbury Centre for the Public Understanding of Religion at the University of Birmingham. Download the free
Shalom Aleichem, Aleichem Shalom (Greeting Song) Read More »
Music and recording © Alexander Massey 11 March 2015 Download the free sheet music (3 part round with optional piano or guitar) Collections Further commentary about this text can be found in two other of my articles: Elohai N’shamah: Its music and meaning Elohai N’shamah: Its deeper meanings This piece is also an installment in
Omer Day 1 – Chesed of Chesed – Elohai N’shamah Read More »
Music and audio © Alexander Massey 13 August 2015 Download the free sheet music (1 or 2 voices lead sheet) Happy is the one who lives in Your house; they praise You forever. Selah. (Psalm 84:5) Happy is the people for whom this is so; happy is the people for whom YHVH is God. (Psalm
Ashrei Yoshvei Veitecha (Happy is the One Who Lives in Your House) Read More »
“It was very special to be part of a large congregation of Liberal Jews, praying together, and the earlier session I went to prepared me for it well. This was taken by Alexander Massey and it was a meditation on Elohai N’shamah for which he has written music and devised physical movements. We discussed the
Report on my session at Liberal Shabbaton (Nov 2015) Read More »
Music and recording © Alexander Massey 11 March 2015 Download the free sheet music (3 part round with optional piano or guitar) 3 part round Further commentary about this text can be found in two other of my articles: Elohai N’shamah: Its music and meaning Omer Day 1 – Chesed of Chesed: This article was
Elohai N’shamah (My God, My Soul) – Its deeper meanings Read More »
Composition and audio © Alexander Massey 4 May 2007 Download the free sheet music (voice & optional piano or guitar) This nigun was written to mirror the movement of the angels on Jacob’s ladder, ascending and descending between earth and heaven (Gen 28:10-19). I originally thought of the melody spanning 10 pitches (B to D),
Nigun Etz Chaim (Tree of Life Nigun) Read More »