Shirei David - שירי דוד

This chapter deals with the foreign nations who rebel against God and their punishments meted to them.

French Tune Spanish Tune

This Kedusha will give you goosebumps. I usually save it for special occasions since it's a favorite among the Kahal. Can be used whenever or wherever, but like I said, it's so beautiful, you're going to want to save it for unique moments, especially a Shabbat Hatan or wedding. The tune is in Raml Maya - the main maqam for Parashat Lech Lecha.

Growing up, I would cherish the opportunity every Shabbat to recite this traditional, slow-paced melody to Tehilim. Originating in the Spanish cities of Morocco such as Tangiers and Tetouan, IMHO, I believe there is no sweeter version in the world. Think you've heard better? Feel free to send me an email with a recording. I'll be waiting. Here is Chapter 1 for your listening pleasure. Our first installment of Tehilim Tuesday.

For our 2nd song in honour of Avraham Avinu, here is the classic Sephardic melody of Cuando el rey Nimrod. Although the current lyrics originate from Tangiers, Morocco in the late 1800s, the song goes even further back almost to the time when the Jews lived in Spain. It is arguably the most "Sephardic" song in the world. So popular that it has been recorded by many modern day Jewish artists. I sing the first stanza of the song and go directly to El Adon. It fits perfectly. This fits tremendously with any quatrain song especially: Lecha Dodi Rau Banim Yigdal 

In honour of Avraham Avinu and Parashat Lech Lecha, here I present to you the song "Kochav Tzedek" (A Righteous Star) written by the famous Moroccan Poet, Rabbi David Bouzaglo. The song describes the life and accomplishments of our forefather, Avraham. I love to sing this song during the Parashiyot which speak about Avraham in great detail i.e. Lech Lecha and Vayera. At the end of the recording, I use the tune to the words of Kadish. A good choice of melody for this coming week and beyond. This quatrain can be applied to many Tefilot and goes specifically well with: Lecha Dodi Yigdal Maqam is SAHLI. (Interested in another song of Avraham Avinu, check out "Cuando el rey Nimrod" found HERE)

French Tune Spanish Tune

In honour of Parashat Noah, to which the songs of Bakashot associated with it are in the Maqam (mode of) Isbihane, I present to you a simple-to-learn tune of Lecha Dodi to be sung during Kabalat Shabbat. The first tune is a classical Isbihane melody that can be applied to any quatrain (4-sentence stanza) song. It also goes well with: El Adon Rau Banim At "Lo Tevoshi," I switch the melody to a faster tune that is commonly sang to the words of "Shahar Avakeshcha" found below: שַׁחַר אֲבַקֶשְׁךָ, צוּרִי וּמִשְׂגַּבִּי / אֶעְרֹך לְפָנֶיךְ שַׁחְרִי וְגַם עַרְבִּי. לִפְנֵי גְדֻלָּתְךָ אֶעְמֹד וְאֶבָּהֵל / כִּי עֵינְךָ תִרְאֶה כָּל מַחְשְׁבוֹת לִבִּי. מַה זֶה אֲשֶׁר יוּכַל הַלֵּב וְהַלָּשׁוֹן / לַעְשׂוֹת וּמַה כֹּחַ רוּחִי בְּתוֹךְ קִרְבִּי? הִנֵּה לְךָ תִיטַב זִמְרַת אֱנוֹשׁ עַל כֵּן / אוֹדְךָ בְּעוֹד תִּהְיֶה נִשְׁמַת אֱלוֹהַּ בִּי! (For the purpose of shortening the recording, only a few of the stanzas of Lecha Dodi are sung.) ~ השמיעיני את ק...

This classic Moroccan piyut has made its way through synagogues around the world. It can be sung both rapidly or slowly but in this video I take the slower approach.  At the 1:36 mark I switch the Maqam to Sahli and then revert back to Zarka. Feel free to do this or just keep it simple. This tune goes with lots of other quatrain (4 sentence stanza) lyrics.  Throughout tefila, one can use it for: Lecha Dodi Rau Banim Yigdal Az Yashir Moshe (see  HERE ) El Adon La'el Baruch

This traditional Az Yashir Moshe is comprised of three different tunes in Maqam (note) Zarka that can also be sung to the following words: 1. Any quatrain (4 lined-stanza) song (eg. Ki Eshmera Shabbat) 2. Yefe Nof 3. Shaar Petah Dodi (which can be found  HERE )