Music and audio © November 2022 Alexander Massey – All Rights Reserved Psalm 97:11 אוֹר, זָרֻעַ לַצַּדִּיק, וּלְיִשְׁרְי לֵב שִׂמְחָה “Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.” I wrote a completely different setting of Or Zarua during the same 24 hour period; it’s a more contemplative version. It’s interesting …
Music and audio © November 2022 Alexander Massey – All Rights Reserved Psalm 97:11 אוֹר, זָרֻעַ לַצַּדִּיק, וּלְיִשְׁרְי לֵב שִׂמְחָה “Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.” There’s no doubt that this is an inward, contemplative setting that could almost be a lullaby. I wrote a completely different setting …
Here are a few songs that can help people make sacred space together. The commentaries give some useful ideas about kavanah – focus and intentionality. Ashrei Yoshvei Veitecha – ‘Happy are those who dwell in your house’ Elohai N’shamah (Ber. 60b) – ‘My God, the soul You have given me is pure.’ (easy 3 part …
Here are a few bits of free sheet music as PDFs to download. Some of the pieces are my transcriptions of music that is in the public domain and/or out of copyright. Others are my own pieces which you are welcome to download and distribute. You’ll see there’s a little coffee cup icon that allows …
Contemplative version, with guitar Version with piano, tango style Music, English translation and audio © 18 July 2022 Alexander Massey Dedicated to my dear uncle, Paul Massey (z’l), who died on 12 July 2022. BUY the sheet music – $4.95 (voice & piano/guitar) The poem that has become known as Dudeleh (also as A dudele) …
Music and recording © Alexander Massey, 20 June 2022 BUY the sheet music (voice & piano, including lead sheet) – $4.95 Just over two years ago, I wrote a penitential, yearning setting of this text, inspired by a conversation with Rabbi Anne Brener. Just recently, I have been studying the books and lectures of Rabbi …
Adonai Adonai No.2 (13 attributes of compassion) Read More »
Arrangement & Audio © 2022 Alexander Massey The events unfolding in Ukraine since February 2022 have been horrifying. I am so sad to see the disregard for the lives and human rights of Ukrainian people, and the destruction of the country and its natural environment. It can be hard, sitting in another country, to find …
Music and Audio © 2022 Alexander Massey – All Rights Reserved BUY the sheet music (voice & piano, including lead sheet) – $4.95 Psalm 27, verses 1 & 4 ;הוָה, אוֹרִי וְיִשְׁעִי–מִמִּי אִירָא .יְהוָה מָעוֹז-חַיַּי, מִמִּי אֶפְחָד :אַחַת, שָׁאַלְתִּי מֵאֵת-יְהוָה– אוֹתָהּ אֲבַקֵּשׁ ;שִׁבְתִּי בְּבֵית-יְהוָה, כָּל-יְמֵי חַיַּי .לַחֲזוֹת בְּנֹעַם-יְהוָה, וּלְבַקֵּר בְּהֵיכָלוֹ Translation God is my light …
Listen Sh’ma Yisrael How should I listen? What do you want me to hear? Adonai Eloheinu What are you? Who are we to call you ours? Adonai Echad You are One. Why do you seem so Other? V’ahavta… v’hayah… vayomer… Love. The rest will follow. Enough said. © 2022 Alexander Massey
These are my favourites! Comins, Mike (2010) Making Prayer Real: leading Jewish voices on what prayer is difficult and what to do about it Grishaver, Joel Lurie (2012) Stories We Pray: insights into the inner work of Jewish worship Rosenberg, Arnold S. (1997/2004) Jewish Liturgy as a Spiritual System: a prayer-by-prayer explanation of the nature …