Kabbalat Shabbat music

/ Liturgy / Siddur, Songs by theme / By

Here are some my musical settings that can be used for Kabbalat Shabbat. First, music for prayers and texts already in the siddur:

  • Adon Olam No.1 – (recording coming soon) The refrain evokes the solemnity and grandeur of the Divine, while the verses have a more tender quality for the intimate yet yearning relationship we have with the Divine.
  • Adon Olam No.2 – an energetic and upbeat setting suitable for shabbat celebration
  • Ahavat Olam – a reflective setting in 3/4
  • Hashkiveinu – a simple heartwarming tune, and an even simpler refrain for everyone to join in
  • Kaddish – a rousing tune reflecting both the affirmation of life in the text, and the joy of shabbat
  • L’chah Dodi – a gently lilting waltz; the minor first section, and the major second section mark the transition from the week into shabbat
  • Mi Chamocha No.1 – a fast, fanfare-style setting, evoking the arrival of royalty (the shabbat queen/bride), and declaration of God’s sovereignty (adonai yimloch …), for 2 or 3 voices a cappella
  • Mi Chamocha No.2 – a lively setting, with a catchy ‘earworm’ chorus, set to freygish mode
  • Oneg Nigun – short, and catchy, congregations pick it up by ear quite quickly. Just for fun, the time signature of this nigunis 5/8, echoing that the idea of Sabbath oneg comes from chapter 58 of Isaiah!
  • Or Zarua No.1 (Ps 97:11) – contemplative setting. “Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.”
  • Or Zarua No.2 (Ps 97:11) – lively setting.
  • Oseh Shalom No.1 – the same music as L’chah Dodi, keeping a musical thread through the service
  • Shalom Aleichem Malachei – traditional text for welcoming the energy and goodwill of the shabbat angels
  • Sim Shalom No.1 – a catchy refrain for everyone to join in, with solo verses in between
  • Yedid Nefesh – a yearning song, suitable for solo voice, or two voices
  • Yism’chu B’malchutcha – gentle and introspective
  • Yism’chu Hashamayim (Ps 96:11) – energetic and fun, a real earworm!

And here is some other music that could also be used on a Friday evening: