                               
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
In the early eighties I began a research project combining my three interests of Hebrew, Bible, and Jewish music. While chanting Torah, I came upon phrases in the Hebrew Bible that I recognized as verses from contemporary songs I had learned in Jewish summer camps and youth groups. That knowledge made the text come alive in a way that I had previously not experienced. It soon became my quest to collect contemporary Jewish music whose texts come from the Bible. My goal was to find a song that could be used to teach every Sidra (Torah portion) in the first five books. This research became the foundation from which SOUNDS WRITE PRODUCTIONS, INC. evolved!
SOUNDS OF CREATION: GENESIS IN SONG, SOUNDS OF FREEDOM: EXODUS IN SONG, SOUNDS OF HOLINESS: LEVITICUS IN SONG, SOUNDS OF SINAI: NUMBERS IN SONG, and SOUNDS OF PROMISE: DEUTERONOMY IN SONG make up this series. Of the 53 songs in these anthologies, 32 were written especially for this project. Composers and vocalists, well known in the Jewish music scene, bring to these recordings a wide spectrum of talents. This is a unique merger of cantors, cantorial soloists, rabbis, composers and performers, who impact Jewish education in North America today. Their creative talents have blossomed individually, but this is the first time their efforts have combined to form an outstanding collaboration. Add to the mix the dynamic arrangements of Producer/Arranger George Fogelman, and you have a fresh, modern sound, rich in diversity, filled with the spiritual energy of each contributor. The challenge of selecting verses to highlight in this extensive project required in depth study of the individual Torah portions as well as discussion with rabbis, cantors, Jewish educators and students of Torah. Many portions were so rich with fascinating phrases or concepts that it was a difficult task to select only one. We chose a focus for each portion not based on phrase recognition or overall importance to the narrative but instead selected segments that could serve as educational jumping off points to further discussion or contemplation. As a result, some obscure or often overlooked verses have attracted our attention. If we were to attempt this selection process at another point in time undoubtedly different verses would be selected. That is the beauty of our Torah and why its study is a process of continuous evolution. If new songs were written specifically for this compilation, the composers either chose verses we recommended or used passages that they found especially intriguing or meaningful. Each composer shared his or her own interpretations of the text and often struggled with it, talked about it with colleagues, and delved deeply into word nuances. We applauded and encouraged this effort. The process of studying Torah in order to create music has been equally as important for many of the people involved in this project as the finished products. Now the process continues with you, the listener, using these songs to make Torah come alive for you in whatever way you find meaningful.
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||