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Music on the Jewish Way of Life CD-ROM
Just as Jewish people are very diverse, there are many, many kinds of Jewish music. Some Jewish music is religious, and some is secular. Some is music for services and large gatherings, some is sung in the home around the Shabbat. Some Jewish music uses instruments, but in traditional communities songs for Shabbat and holidays are for voices alone, as it’s forbidden to play instruments at these times.
The music that you hear at various places in the CD-ROM was chosen to allow you to hear some very diverse examples of Jewish music. Most of the music is played by performers from the UK, and you might hear music in almost any of these styles at synagogues and celebrations in the British Jewish community. The notes below tell you some more about each individual piece of music.
Hineh Ma Tov
Hebrew words from Psalm 133; music and English words by Jess Gold. Performed by Red Sea Blue, from album Red Sea Blue, Bird Records, 1999. Used with permission. CD available from jessinamerica(at)hotmail.com
This is an example of new contemporary Jewish music by a group of London-based artists, which sets a traditional Hebrew text: “How good and pleasant it is for brothers to dwell in unity” (Psalm 133, verse 1).
The May Niggun
Music by Jon Fiber and Andy Shaw. Performed by Red Sea Blue, from album Red Sea Blue, Bird Records, 1999. Used with permission. CD available from jessinamerica(at)hotmail.com
This is an example of new contemporary Jewish music by a group of London-based artists, based on the traditional Hasidic nigun – a repeated, sung melody.
Blessings for various foods
Blessings recited by Neta Lavee, Gefen Lavee, Zeesy Simon, Kobi Weiner and Jojo Weiner.
Megillat Ester
Traditional Ashkenazi Jewish chant, read by Ian Gamse. Recorded for Jewish Way of Life CD, London, June 2007.
The Biblical book of Esther is read from a scroll on the holiday of Purim. Listen out for the interruptions: those listening to the reading always try to make noises to block out the name of Haman, the ‘baddie’ in the story…
Shalom Aleichem
Traditional Hebrew words, music by Israel Goldfarb. Sung by Kehillat Lev Tov (Jennie Abelman, Alicia Ambrose, Ian Gamse, Joe Gamse, Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz, Norm Guthartz, Rachel Guthartz, Flora Hoori and Abigail Wood). Recorded for Jewish Way of Life CD, London, June 2007.
This song, said to welcome visiting angels to the Jewish home, is traditionally sung in Jewish homes around the table before the Friday night meal.
Simchat Torah songs
Am Yisrael Chai
Traditional Hebrew words, music by Shlomo Carlebach
David Melech Yisrael
Traditional Hebrew words, music by Shlomo Carlebach
Nigun (Ba shanah haba'ah)
Music by Shlomo Carlebach
Sisu et Yerushalayim
Traditional Hebrew words, music by Akiva Nof
Torah tziva lanu Moshe
Traditional Hebrew words, music traditional
All sung by Kehillat Lev Tov, recorded for Jewish Way of Life CD, London, June 2007
Five favourite songs which are often sung in synagogues on Simhat Torah, to accompany dancing with the Torah scrolls. Most of them have traditional words about things like the Torah, Jerusalem and the Jewish people, but one is a nigun, a song without words. Notice that no instruments are used, because they are not used on Jewish holidays. Instead, the singers clap and sing harmonies to help to make the music energetic.
Mizmor leDavid (Psalm 23)
Hebrew words from Psalm 23. Music by Benzion Shenker. Sung by Kehillat Lev Tov, recorded for Jewish Way of Life CD, London, June 2007
This melody for Psalm 23, by contemporary Hasidic composer Benzion Shenker, is most popularly sung on Shabbat afternoon. The contemplative, slow melody reflects the mood of Saturday afternoon, when Shabbat is about to depart…
Hamavdil
Text attributed to Rabbi Isaac Ibn Ghayat, 11th Century. Music traditional from Jerusalem. Sung by Rabbi Marcelo Bronstein, Rabbi J. Rolando Matalan and Hazzan Ari Priven, Congregation B’nai Jeshurun, New York City. From CD With Every Breath: The Music of Shabbat at BJ. Knitting Factory Records KFR-258, 1999. See www.bj.org. Used with the kind permission of Hazzan Ari Priven.
This medieval song is often sung at the conclusion of Shabbat: “He who divides between holy and secular will forgive our sins, and will multiply our seed and our wealth, like the sand of the seashore and the stars of the night…” There are many melodies for this song; this is a traditional Sephardi melody from Jerusalem.
Erev shel shoshanim (Evening of Roses)
Music by Yosef Hadar. Performed by Abigail Wood (recorders and MIDI). Recorded for Jewish Way of Life CD, London, July 2007
Erev shel shoshanim, composed by Yosef Hadar, is a popular modern Israeli love song. The recorder (halil) has often been used in Israeli neo-folk music, as it is reminiscent of a shepherd’s flute.
Akh Zeh haYom (This is the day)
Text traditional Hebrew. Music: traditional Livorno Sephardi. Sung by Elio Toaff. From CD Italian Jewish Musical Traditions from the Leo Levi collection (1954-1961). Jewish Music Research Center, Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Roma AMTI 14, 1991. Available from www.jewish-music.huji.ac.il. Used with the kind permission of Professor Edwin Seroussi.
This is a song for Purim from the Livorno Sephardi tradition.
Mayim mayim (Water, water)
Music traditional. Performed by A Tickle in the Heart Swing & Klezmer Trio Köln. From CD Klezcats. A Tickle in the Heart, 2003. Available from www.swingklezmer.de. Used with the kind permission of Andreas Schmitges.
A popular Israeli dance melody played in klezmer style by Cologne-based band A Tickle in the Heart. A Tickle in the Heart regularly perform and teach klezmer music in London during the yearly JMI Klezfest London summer programme. The clarinet is a popular solo instrument in klezmer music.
Avinu malkenu (Our Father, our King)
Text: Traditional Hebrew from the High Holydays liturgy. Music traditional Ashkenazi. Performed by the choir of the Liberal Jewish Synagogue, London. From CD Music from the choir of the Liberal Jewish Synagogue. Liberal Jewish Synagogue. Available from www.ljs.org. Used with the kind permission of Cathy Heller-Jones.
Avinu Malkenu (Our Father, Our King) is one of the best-known parts of the traditional Jewish liturgy for the High Holidays. The text, which concludes the section of penitential prayers (selichot), asks God to look favourably on the congregation and answer their prayers. This melody is well known in Ashkenazi synagogues and is usually sung by the whole congregation.
Ocho Kandelikas (Eight Candles)
Words and music by Flory Jagoda. Arranged and performed by Los Desterrados. From CD Tu. Crusoe Records 2006. See www.losdesterrados.com. Used with the kind permission of Hayley Blitz.
A song for Hanukkah in the Ladino language by folksinger-songwriter Flory Jagoda. This song is now popular among many performers of Sephardi music. The chorus counts the eight Hanukkah candles: una (one) kandelika, dos (two) kandelikas and so on…
Let My People Go
Text: Traditional, with Hebrew words from Exodus 15:11. Music: traditional spiritual. Performed by Alan Eder and friends. From CD Reggae Passover. Mr. e. records, 1996. Available from www.reggaepassover.com. Used with the kind permission of Alan Eder.
Cantor Dennis Parnell, Cantor at the Malibu Jewish Center and Synagogue, added the Hebrew words Mi Kamocha, to the traditional African-American spiritual Let My People Go. This spiritual, which talks about the exodus from Egypt, has become a popular addition to the songs sung on Passover by some congregations. Singing this song at Passover helps people to see similarities between the histories of the Jewish and African-American communities, and to express support for communities of other faiths who may be subject to slavery.
Baruch HaBa (Blessed is he who comes)
Text: Psalm 118, verses 26-29. Music: traditional Sephardi melody. Performed by the Choir of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews’ Congregation, London. Choirmaster: Maurice Martin. From CD A Sephardi Celebration. The Sephardi Centre, London, CRC1416-2, 2004. CD available from www.classicalrecording.co.uk. Used with the kind permission of Hazan Adam Musikant.
The Spanish and Portuguese Jews’ Congregation, Britain’s oldest Jewish congregation, has a rich musical tradition which is quite different to the Germanic and East European melodies used in many of London’s Ashkenazi congregations. This is the best-known melody of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews congregation, sung by a choir similar to that you might hear in Bevis Marks Synagogue, London. In this recording they are singing the end of psalm 118, part of the Hallel (psalms of praise) sung on numerous Jewish holidays and festivals.
Sur Yah El (Rock, Lord, God)
Text by Ezekiel Albeg. Music adapted from ‘Bint al-Balad’ by Muhammed Abd al-Wahab. Performed by Moses Tawil and ensemble, 20 November 1984. Recorded by Kay Kaufman Shelemay. From CD accompanying Kay Kaufman Shelemay, Let Jasmine Rain Down: Song and Remembrance among Syrian Jews. Chicago University Press, 1998. Used with the kind permission of Kay Kaufman Shelemay and Chicago University Press.
During the early twentieth century, most of the Jews of Syria left for other communities; today the largest Syrian Jewish community is in New York, where this recording was made. Today’s Syrian Jews continue the tradition of composing pizmonim, of which this is an example: sacred Hebrew texts set to Middle Eastern Arab popular melodies, like this one, by Egyptian singer and composer Muhammed Abd al-Wahab.
Wedding medley: Od Yishama/Siman Tov u’Mazal Tov
Music traditional. Performed by Danny Shine/Neshama Music. From promotional CD Neshama. Neshama Music, n.d. Available via www.neshama-music.co.uk. Used with the kind permission of Danny Shine.
Danny Shine is a popular singer/bandleader who performs at many Jewish weddings in London and further afield. These are two of the most popular Jewish wedding songs. The words of Od Yishama, from the Hebrew wedding blessings, say ‘Once again, the cities of Judah and courtyards of Jerusalem will resonate with happy, joyous voices, the voices of a bridegroom and bride’. Siman tov u’Mazal tov is a song of congratulation: good fortune to all of us, and to all the Jewish people!
Mourner’s Kaddish
Recited by Shmuel Salinger.
This prayer, which praises God, is recited towards the end of every service by close family members during the first year after a relative’s death.
Shema Yisrael (Hear, O Israel)
Text: Deuteronomy 6:4. Music traditional, arranged by Stephen Glass. Performed by Lionel Rosenfeld with the Shabbaton Choir, conducted by Stephen Glass. From CD Music for the Jewish Soul, United Synagogue/Office of the Chief Rabbi, 2006. See www.shabbatonchoir.com. Used with kind permission.
The Shema is the core statement of Jewish faith: Hear O Israel: The Lord our God is one. Here it is performed by a cantor and choir; the Shabbaton choir sing both for synagogue services and concerts. This recording was taken from a CD produced to celebrate the publication of a new siddur (prayer book) by Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks.
Sinai Sinai
Text and music: traditional Iraqi Jewish. Performed by Rivers of Babylon. From CD Treasures. Available from www.riversofbabylon.com. Used with the kind permission of Sara Manasseh.
Rivers of Babylon is a London-based performance group specialising in the religious and secular music of the Iraqi Jewish tradition. This song is sung in Hebrew, in the Babylonian (Iraqi) pronunciation. Sinai Sinai is usually sung for Simhat Torah, but the words talk about Mt Sinai, so are also relevant to Shavuot. The call and response between the leader and congregation says: ‘Sinai, Sinai, where is Moses?’ ‘Moses, Moses, where is Sinai?’
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to all the artists and producers, listed individually above, who gave permission for us to use their recordings for this project. Thanks to the Jewish Music Institute for their kind sponsorship of music consultancy for this project. Special thanks to those who participated in the recordings made especially for the project:
Jennie Abelman, Alicia Ambrose, Ian Gamse, Joe Gamse, Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz, Norm Guthartz
Rachel Guthartz, Flora Hoori, Geffen Lavee, Neta Lavee, Shmuel Salinger, Zeesy Simon, Jojo Weiner, Kobi Weiner, Abigail Wood
Notes and music selection by Dr Abigail Wood, Joe Loss Lecturer in Jewish Music, SOAS, University of London.