Ana B’choach
Music & audio © 29 Sept 2022 Alexander Massey – All Rights Reserved
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I believe in …
Music & Audio © 4 Nov 2022 Alexander Massey – All Rights Reserved This text was found written during WW2 on the wall of a cellar in Cologne, by a Jew hiding from the Nazis: I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love even when I feel no …
Songs with the theme of ‘light’
Light is apparently mentioned only 36 times in the Torah (B’nei Yissascher on Kislev and Tevet 1:6). It is mentioned many more times in the Talmud, and especially the mystical text of the Zohar. We are taught that the soul of a each person is part of the light of God (Prov. 20:27). There are …
Or Zarua No.2 (lively setting)
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 …
Or Zarua No.1 (contemplative setting)
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 …
Making sacred space together
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 …
Dudeleh (Ribono Shel Olam)
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) …
Adonai Adonai No.2 (13 attributes of compassion)
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 …
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Oseh Shalom – Ukrainian lullaby tune
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 …
Adonai Ori / Achat Sha’alti – Psalm 27
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 …