[HANASHIR:8324] Re: HANASHIR digest 1152

[Hazzanatu <Hazzanatu...>]

I have some additional thoughts for Gayle Joseph regarding her women's music 
Shabbat...

Several people mentioned Hanna Tiferet (Siegel).  I recommend her music very 
highly.  Her compositions are generally very accessible and moving and 
spiritual.  Sometimes her liturgy is interpretive and/or interspersed with 
English, but in the context of the service you are planning that should work 
fine.  What wasn't mentioned, is that most of her music now appears in a 
wonderful song book, which I believe has been published by SoundsWrite.  She 
includes Kavannot and movement activities as well, to incorporate with her 
music.  Additionally, you can get several tapes of hers from either 
SoundsWrite or TARA.  "Olamama" has her very nice "S'fatai Tiftach" which 
Donna Gordon mentioned.  It also includes a nice "Ufros Aleynu/Shabbat 
Blessing."  "A Voice Calls" has a very nice "Or Zarua" for your Kabbalat 
Shabbat psalms.  The tape "And You Shall Teach Your Children'" recorded with 
"Shir Hadash" (the group that she sings with) includes a nice upbeat nigun.

Meryl Weiner (hi there Meryl!) mentioned Benjie Ellen Schiller's piece 
"Lamdeini."  The poet who wrote the words, that Meryl couldn't recall, is 
Leah Goldberg.  She is worth exploring by anyone interested in simple, yet 
moving Hebrew poetry.  Anything written by Benjie is a winner.  She is very 
talented, but very under-published.

Finally, no one mentioned the group MIRAJ.  These three women are staples on 
the Philadelphia Jewish music scene.  Rabbi Margot Stein and Rabbi (Geela) 
Rayzel Raphael are grads. of RRC.  They studied there with Juliet Spitzer.  
All three are very talented musically and they all write music, some of which 
they sing independently, some they sing as Miraj.  They have several CD's out 
and also a book of music which has some of their compositions.  One of the 
two big Jewish music publishers must carry it.  If not, you can contact 
Rayzel at shechinah18 (at) mindspring(dot)com(dot)
In this music book you'll find Juliet's wonderful "Guard My Tongue" which is 
found at the end of the silent Amidah (in both Hebrew and English).  The 
music books gives you three voice parts.  They also have a composition in the 
book called "Shirat Ha-Yam" which is an interpretive English song based on 
Psalm 98 of Kabbalat Shabbat.  They also have a great Shabbat song called 
"Gather In" which also ties in with candle lighting.  Finally, at a recent 
performance that Miraj gave at the Jewish Educators Assembly they sang a new 
piece based on "Ha-Ma'ariv Aravim" - 1st blessing before evening Shema.  It 
was a wonderful piece, connecting the stress of our everyday lives and the 
peacefulness of the Shabbat evening in a very creative way.  You should 
contact Rayzel at the above e-mail address site to see if they have it 
available in music notation.  

Hope this posting wasn't too long, and that it was helpful both to Gayle and 
to others who may be interested in expanding their repertoire of women's 
music.  Good luck with your service - it sounds wonderful!

(Cantor) Arlyne Unger