Still Voice Music

Music

Chasing Stray Flames

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1.	Traveler's Niggun Full Song	Play	Traveler's Niggun Full Song Notes This piece was done completely on the 30-string modern lyre. Obviously there are multiple tracks, so it could be considered a piece for a lyre ensemble. I try to keep to the idea that a niggun must have a discernable melody that can be sung with 'la la la' or 'dai dai dai'. This piece meets that requirement, I believe. This melody first came up while I was riding my bike, but it works for walking down a dirt path as well. It is a melody for traveling, for motion. Info
2.	The Printer	Play	The Printer Notes The melody of this piece has been with me for a while. It originally came from a poem I wrote a long time ago that starts: The printer sets the type, the pages are then printed. The foolish pages think that they are crafting the printer keeps on laughing. As all the while the press is slowly turning. The printer in the song is Hashem (G-d). Info
3.	Through It All	Play	Through It All Notes There are many things that are distractions, or worse. Sometimes tragedy or near tragedy strikes without warning. Other times it's just the endless stream of responsibilities and juggling. Occasionally there's a moment to look back and wonder at making it through the twists and turns of each day. Through It All, somehow there's growth and forward movement. That is the feeling behind this song. Info
4.	Twilight Niggun	Play	Twilight Niggun Notes Twilight time is a special time, especially on Friday evening just before three medium-sized stars are seen in the sky, ushering in the Sabbath. This lyre piece approaches that hushed feeling that occurs after sundown before night falls. Info
5.	Sparks In The Early Rain	Play	Sparks In The Early Rain Notes This piece was inspired by the poetry of the Andalusian Jewish poets of 11th and 12th century Spain. This was done at the time I was reading poetry by Judah ha-Levi,Solomon Ibn Gabirol, and Shmuel HaNagid - but specifically Judah ha-Levi (the "Sweet Singer of Zion") is the most intensely inspiring. The poems about wine, gardens, storms, nature, all bring an immediate romantic sense. His poems about the Sabbath and Zion have a yearning that is much needed, especially in America. Refering to Zion: Zion! will you not ask if peace is with your captives That seeks your peace -- that are the remnant of your flocks? From west and east, from north and south -- the greeting "Peace" from far and near, you take from every side; And greeting from the captive of desire, giving his tears like dew Of Hermon, and longing to let them fall upon your hills. To wail for your affliction I am like the jackals; but when I dream Of the return of your captivity, I am a harp for your songs. My heart to Bethel and Peniel yearns sore, To Machanaim and to all the places where your pure ones have met. There the Presence abides in you; yea, there your Maker Opened your gates to face the gates of heaven. And the Lord's glory alone was your light; No sun nor moon nor stars were luminants for you. I would choose for my soul to pour itself out within that place Where the spirit of God was outpoured upon your chosen. - from "Ode to Zion" Info
6.	Fracture	Play	Fracture Notes The great Kabbalist, Rabbi Isaac Luria, taught that every created thing possesses a "spark" of divine energy that constitutes its essence and soul. When a person utilizes something toward a divine end, they bring to light this divine spark, manifesting and realizing the purpose for which it was created. In all physical substances, a material "husk" or "shell" (kelipah) encases and conceals the divine spark at its core, necessitating great effort on the part of a person to access the spark without becoming enmeshed in the surface materiality. When the world was created, as told in the Kabbalah, there was a single vessel containing the divine light, like a clay pot. Part of the act of creation was breaking this vessel (fracture), so that sparks of divine light scattered as divine essence among all living things. In people, it is called the Soul. Our job is to help collect the sparks (hence "stray flames") through the process of repairing the world (Tikkun Olam), and bring them all back to unity with the divine light once again. The moment of fracture was the focus of this piece, but it's not overtly violent, as one might expect. Info
7.	Niggun Menuha Full Song	Play	Niggun Menuha Full Song Notes This lyre piece was specifically made as a song for preparation for Shabbat. This niggun was played on the lyre with Sabbath Menuha in mind. The Sabbath (Shabbat) is not just a day to stop working and rest. It is a day inserted into our weekly cycle in time that is actually outside of time, if we honor it. It is a gift of time given to show us what will be. Menuha is a Hebrew word usully translated as "rest", but applied to the Sabbath it means happiness, stillness, peace, harmony. The ancient sages say that it was Menuha that was created on the seventh day, as the final act to complete creation (did you notice that this is track 7?). Info
8.	Ki Haym Chayenu Full Song	Play	Ki Haym Chayenu Full Song Notes Ki Haym Chayenu is a traditional Maariv (evening prayer) melody, the Hebrew words ""Ki Haym Chayenu V'Orech Yamaynu, U'vahem Nehegu Yomam V'Laiyla", mean "for Torah and Mitzvot are our life and they lengthen our days and they are what we work for day and night." I like the tension in this traditionally 'calm' melody that appears in this piece through the subtle disharmonies and motion in the supporting lyre tracks. Perhaps it is a yearning for home? Info
9.	Sea Dance	Play	Sea Dance Notes This is my own version of the "Song of the Sea" that the Israelites sang at the edge of the Sea of Reeds (Yam Suf) celebrating their escape from Pharoah's army and their deliverance from slavery. I envisioned Miriam and a host of people doing a dignified dance with frame drums, cymbals, and maybe even a few lyres. I know this is probably a stretch. They were more likely dancing around wildly in a frenzy of relief and celebration, but my version is closer in spirit to the traditional melody sung in the Synagogue for the Song of the Sea. Info
10.	In The King's Court	Play	In The King's Court Notes The visualization for this lyre piece was very clear. A lazy,warm afternoon in the court of the King. I imagined either King David or Solomon. The King is casually attending to court matters, while the lyre players stand to one side playing. Messengers come and go, lazy fans held by servants are waving slowly. The music fills the large chamber, bouncing off marble pillars and getting lost in the thick rugs and wall hangings. Another day in the King's court. Info
11.	Iktibas	Play	Iktibas Notes Iktibas is an Arabic word. One of it's meanings is to light a flame from another flame. The origin is from the practice of lighting your camp fire from your neighbor's fire, but came to take on a meaning of continuation from one thing to another. This piano piece is in the style and spirit of the solo piano tracks on my previous CD "Small Acts", so I called this song Iktibas, as it creates the link of continuation from "Small Acts" to "Chasing Stray Flames". Info
12.	Lyre Kavanah - Running and Returning	Play	Lyre Kavanah - Running and Returning Notes "Running and Returning" (Hebrew: Ratzo Vshov) is the experience during intense meditation/Kavanah of the soul rushing out of the body to fuse into One with the Creator - Running, but at the last moment, a profound fear, a naturnal built in 'brake' kicks in and the desire to live and complete our mission on Earth prevents expiring into bliss, and the soul returns to the body. This Running and Returning experience is profound and is an opportunity to grow and expand. For most, it is not an everyday occurance. The caution that goes along with Ratzo Vshov in Kavanah is that it is possible to overcome the fear - the brake - with an overwhelming desire to fuse with the only true reality, the infinite. If this happens, the body dies. This shouldn't be taken lightly. Take care. Kavanah means devotion, intent,concentration, having it's root in the Hebrew word for "aiming". This Lyre Kavanah (Kavanah Kinnor) piece was created in the period just before Tisha B'Av. Tisha B'Av (the 9th of the Hebrew month of Av) is a recurring day of tragedy throughout Jewish History. Both Jewish Temples were destroyed on that day, along with many other sad events through history. For this piece, I fasted for at least one day before playing or recording anything, in order to improve the quality of my focus and devotion. Info
13.	Slave's Dream	Play	Slave's Dream Notes The melody for Slave's Dream has been with me for a very long time. The melody came from a poem I wrote a long time ago as well. It begins: Where I come from I carry with me. Where I am is a million places. Where I live is my survival. Where I dream is my next home. As a stranger in the land, I speak so very softly. So very few extend their hand to me. It's a circumstance unplanned, most changes seem to come from the dreams of slaves yearning to be free. I thought putting this song at the end of the CD would be appropriate, especially considering the title of the next CD. Stay tuned! Info

The music on Chasing Stray Flames is relaxing, meditative, Kabbalah music. But it is also more. This is music of yearning. Yearning for redemption, for a return to Homeland, for a haven from the superficial and the blind pursuit of self-indulgence. Bound up with the expression of yearning is a supporting bedrock of peace and faith. From the solo piano tracks “Through It All”,“Fracture”, and “Iktibas”, to the lyre pieces “Niggun Menuha”, “Traveler’s Niggun”, and the traditional “Ki Haym Chayenu” (the Torah's words "are our life"), a strong foundation of Emunah – faith, keeps the tension of yearning from falling into songs of despair.

Percussion, including Middle Eastern percussion instruments and rhythms are used in the songs “The Printer”, “Sea Dance”, and “Sparks in the Early Rain” to emphasize the fusion of new and old, and to enhance the expression of the more forceful voices of the lyre.

The expression of yearning crystallizes in Lyre Kavanah, a term applied to solo lyre playing while in an intense, focused spiritual state (the mindset for prayer). It provides the wellspring of emotion that feeds the rest of the music. This may very well be what King David did when he was composing the Psalms on his lyre.

The final track, “Slave’s Dream” is a final expression of yearning as an ‘anthem for return’, a wordless expression of the desire for the ingathering of the exiles to renew in earnest from North America to Israel.

Click on any of the "Play" links to hear a 30 second clip. Songs indicated by ** Full Song ** are complete tracks.

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