Composition and audio © Alexander Massey – 24 June 2012 BUY the sheet music (voice & pno) – $4.95 Psalm 150 not only completes Book 5 of the Psalms (tehillim), but is the last of all the Psalms. As such, its themes are particularly important as a summation – a vision – of what our …
Written and first performed for the Oxford Unitarians service at Harris Manchester College, Yom Hashoah 5774/2014 Composition and audio © Alexander Massey 23 January 2014 In English: In Hebrew: Essa Einai / I lift my eyes – BUY the sheet music (Eng & Heb) – $4.95 Many commentators have seen this psalm as expressing total …
On Shabbat, we mark the completion of Creation, and the establishment of God, not humanity, as the Ruler of Creation. Psalm 93 – beginning with the words Adonai malach – is one of many affirmations of this in traditional Shabbat liturgy. When we sing Psalm 93, with full voices (not half-heartedly!), especially as a call …
Composition and audio © Alexander Massey 5 March 2013 BUY the sheet music (solo & pno/guit) – $4.95 I am grateful to my storyteller friend Adele Moss for drawing my attention to Psalm 131, and encouraging me to spend time with it. Why was it written? What is it about? Adele’s inspired suggestion is that …
Composition, lyrics and audio © Alexander Massey, 14 June 2012 BUY the sheet music (solo & pno) – $4.95 BUY the sheet music (SATB & pno) – $11.25 (5 copies @ $2.25) At first glance, Psalm 87 appears to be quite disjointed, with no clear emotional or theological point to make. While a line from it …
Psalm 89:16-19 Composition and audio © Alexander Massey, 24 May 2012 Listen / watch on YouTube (including spoken introduction) – SOAS Interfaith Music Festival Buy the sheet music (4 equal vces + pno) – $11.25 (5 copies @ $2.25) Buy the sheet music (1, 2 or 3 voices, unaccompanied, or with guitar) – $6.75 (3 copies @ …
Psalm 86:1-7 Composition, lyrics and audio © Alexander Massey, 8 May 2012 Listen/watch song on YouTube Listen/watch nigun on youTube BUY the sheet music (solo & pno) – $4.95 Although the lyrics for this are based very closely on the first half of Psalm 86, this song was originally written as a nigun (wordless melody), …
Psalm 92:6 Composition and audio © Alexander Massey 25 March 2012 BUY the sheet music (round – 3 vces & pno) – $9 (4 copies @ $2.25) “How great are your works, God! Your thoughts are very deep.” The morning service includes Psalm 92 Tov l’hodot (‘It is a good thing to give thanks to …
Midrash on Psalm 81 (1-4, 8, 11) Composition, lyrics and audio © Alexander Massey, 12 Sep 2011 BUY the sheet music (3 vces lead sheet) – $6.75 (3 copies @ $2.25) BUY the sheet music (3 vces & pno) – $9 (4 copies @ $2.25) I love those old songs that have two melodies that …