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 […]
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Music and recording © Alexander Massey 18 July 2020 – All Rights Reserved Download the free sheet music (3 part round voice & optional guitar) A musical meditation on the morning blessing for moving mindfully through the world. A familiar translation is: “Blessed are you, O Lord, our God, king of the universe, who makes firm the
Hameichin Mitzadei Gaver (You Make Our Steps Firm) Read More »
Music, English lyrics and recording © Alexander Massey 2020 – All Rights Reserved Download the free sheet music (voice & guitar) “Peace, peace, when you are far, However close you are.” So speaks Havayah. “Who is Havayah?” you might ask. This is a word that, in more recent times, some people have chosen to say when
Shalom, Shalom (Peace, Peace) Read More »
Music and recording © Alexander Massey 26 March 2017 Download the free sheet music (voice & guitar with optional descant) Composed for the ‘United for Peace – United Through Poetry’ event 10 May 2017, an initative of The Oxford Foundation delivered in partnership with the Edward Cadbury Centre for the Public Understanding of Religion at
Shalom Aleichem, Aleichem Shalom (Greeting) Read More »
A collection of rounds from the simple and easy learnable, to complex ones for advanced musicians and vocalists. The shortest melody is 6 bars, and the longest 48 bars, with anything from 2 to 5 voices. There are recordings of all of them on this website. If you would like sheet music for any of
Jewish Rounds for singing Read More »
Music and audio © Alexander Massey 25 Nov. 2018 Download the free sheet music (round for 4 or more voices) This Sim Shalom No.2 (Maker of Peace) partners another round, Lo Yisa Goi No.1, that prophecies the end of war. Lo Yisa Goi No.1 is set in a minor key, and uses a verse from Isaiah
Sim Shalom No. 2 & Lo Yisa Goi No. 1 (Maker Of Peace & Nation Will Not Harm Nation) Read More »
Music and audio © Alexander Massey 20 Oct 2014 Download the free sheet music (1 or 2 voices & optional guitar) This piece is one of my collection of songs for Shabbat Shacharit, all available here. Havayah, Sh’chinah, Adonai,S’fatai tiftach,Ufi yagid t’hilatecha. All-That-Is-Was-And-Shall-Be, In-Dwelling Presence, Yah,Open my lips, And my mouth will declare Your Praise. For many years,
Havayah S’fatai Tiftach (Open My Lips) Read More »
Music and recording © Alexander Massey 19 May 2016 Download the free sheet music (round for 2 voices & piano) הִגִּיד לְךָ אָדָם, מַה-טּוֹב; וּמָה-יְהוָה דּוֹרֵשׁ מִמְּךָ, כִּי אִם-עֲשׂוֹת מִשְׁפָּט וְאַהֲבַת חֶסֶד, וְהַצְנֵעַ לֶכֶת, עִם-אֱלֹהֶיךָ “You have all been shown what is good, and what God seeks from you.Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly
You Have All Been Shown (song) Read More »
Music and recording © Alexander Massey 11 March 2015 Download the free sheet music (3 part round with optional piano or guitar) אֱלהַי נְשָׁמָה שֶׁנָּתַתָּ בִּי טְהורָה הִיא My God, the soul You have given me is pure. (Berachot 60b) The Talmud teaches us to say ‘God’ as our first word when we wake in the
Elohai N’shamah (My Soul Is Pure) Read More »
Five Sacred Chants is an 11-page sheet music set of simple rounds and chants for 2 or 3 voices. It includes a a 4-page introduction with an essay ‘What’s the point of chanting?’, and short commentaries on each of the five pieces. You can listen to all the chants on this website: Tashlich – 2
Five Sacred Chants Read More »