The text I want to explore this Shavuot is from Proverbs 3:18 Eitz chayim hi l’machazikim [chazak] bah, v’tomcheicha meiushar –“It is a tree of life to those who hold fast to it, and whoever grasps her is happy-straight [by implication,]”. Ushar or yashar, a word literally means straight, and is usually translated as ‘happy’, […]
Trees, Arks, and Torah (Shavuot) Read More »
Music and recording © Alexander Massey 13 Sept 2020 – All Rights Reserved Download the free sheet music (lead sheet, voice & guitar) 1 Yah is my shepherd; I lack nothing. [Chorus] 2 Yah makes me lie down in green pastures; Yah leads me to water in places of repose; 3 Yah renews my
Adonai Roi (God Is My Shepherd, Psalm 23) Read More »
Music and recording © Alexander Massey 12 Sept 2020 – All Rights Reserved Download the free sheet music (voice & piano or guitar) “Let the heavens rejoice and the earth exult; let the sea and all within it thunder.” Psalm 96:11 is such a joyous text, it needs music that will get people clapping, stamping
Yism’chu HaShamayim (Let The Heavens Rejoice) Read More »
Music and audio © Alexander Massey 6 Dec. 2013 Download the free sheet music (voice & piano) Why have You forgotten us utterly, forsaken us for all time? Turn us back, Eternal One, to Yourself, that we may be turned! Renew our days as of old. For You have utterly rejected us, bitterly raged against
Lamah Tishchacheinu (Why Have You Forgotten Us?) Read More »
In Hebrew In English – ‘Rise up, my love, my fair one’ Composition and audio © Alexander Massey 9 Dec 2015 This recording and a version of this article were published on Ritual Well (USA) as ‘Arise, my love‘. English duet version (a recording with women’s voices is coming soon!) Hebrew duet version (a recording with
Kumi Lach Rayati (Rise Up, My Love) Read More »
Composition and audio © Alexander Massey 9 Dec 2015 Download the free sheet music (voice & guitar) This recording and a version of this article were published on Ritual Well (USA) as ‘You have ravished my heart, my sister‘. Where in the Tanach can we find a text for celebrating a lesbian wedding, and an
Libavtini Achoti Chalah (You Have Ravished My Heart, My Sister) Read More »
Composition, lyrics and audio © Alexander Massey, 9 Nov 2011 Download the free sheet music (2 voices & piano) Vatomeir Rut al-tifgi-bi, l’azveich lashuv meiachara’ich: ki el asher teilchi eileich, uva’asher talini alin – ameich ami, veilohayich elohai; ba’asher tamuti amut, v’sham ekaveir; koh ya’aseh adonai li, v’choh yosif – ki hamavet, yafrid beini uveineich.
Your People Will Be My People (song of Ruth) Read More »