Here is a collection of quotations and teachings from various sources that hopefully give an insight into a Chassidic perspective on music; there is a fluidity in the teachings between song, melody, melody with words and melody without words, and…
Tag: nigun
Oneg Nigun
Music & audio © Alexander Massey, 23 March 2014 In Jewish life, we take joy seriously! We are reminded that, on Shabbat especially, we should be joyful, prompted by the verse from Isaiah 58:13 – “and call the Sabbath a delight…
Naomi’s Nigun
Music & audio © Alexander Massey 14 May 2016 The melody is based on the nusach for the haftarah blessing on shabbat morning. It has 50 notes, in honour of my friend Naomi’s 50th birthday!
Nigun Chakartani vaTeida – Nigun meditation on Psalm 139
Music & audio © Alexander Massey, 26 Oct 2018 Music’s role is often to express or explore what cannot be put into words. I wrote this nigun at a time when I found myself soul searching and questioning, and wanting to…
Nachamu Nachamu Nigun
Composition and audio © Alexander Massey 8 March 2011 The music for this came to me in the week of Tisha B’Av (the 9th of the month of Av), the day that marks many sadnesses for the Jewish people –…
Yonah’s Nigun
© Alexander Massey 9 Oct 2008 I wrote this originally as a musical meditation to prepare for leading Mincha (the afternoon service) at Yom Kippur 5769 (2008) with the London Ruach Chavurah community (Jewish Renewal). Some commentators on the Book…
Limmud Nigun
Composition and audio © Alexander Massey 1 September 2008 I wrote this after coming back home from my first ever experience of a Limmud conference, camping in a field in the heart of the English countryside, where I heard the…
Tree of Life Nigun
Composition and audio © Alexander Massey 4 May 2007 This nigun was written to mirror the movement of the angels on Jacob’s ladder, ascending and descending between earth and heaven (Gen 28:10-19). I originally thought of the melody spanning 10…
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