Mi Kashem • Tzlil V'Zemer 5 // Let Us Grow

Piccolo, piccolo, what do you say?
I say: Bass and Cello, come out to play!
Bass and cello, bass and cello, what do you say?
I say: violin let's make Avi's day!

Contrast this—music, harmony, arrangements, Avrohom Rosenberg's restraint—with today's choirs and choirleaders. If you need to appreciate this more.

Hannukah Concert • Center Makor

The Russian Jewish Center of Massachusetts. Be sure to note the segue at 1:59. Happy Chanukah!

Celebration of Shabbat • Sydenham Choir (Jo'burg)

Ahhhhh, Uncle Oshy and his Mikvah Men. Good Shabbos, Good Shabbos!



And here's a bit of this in action:



LIVE NOW!
Listen to the ShirShelYom Erev Shabbos stream. Suggest songs.

Rosh Chodesh :: Areshet Sifateinu • Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir

Gut chodesh, Ksiva Vechasima Tova!

Monday Matchup :: Mi Ho'ish • Pirchei/MBD

Pirchei. Such a standard that the music notes are printed in certain Tehillims. (Untrue.)



MBD. Off of Maaminim bnei Maaminim. Mellow ben Mellow.

Ani Maamin • Amudei Shaish

This is just a fresh slice of red and juicy Shabbos competition. At 2:54, the soloist goes all Visiting Day Choir and it just goes Bog War from there. Sing loud and you'll get an extra freezepop.

A remastered version of the song, released as "Amudei Sheish: The Superstars" (I think in 2006). Enjoy!

America Bless G-d

via Gruntig in the spirit of Unity

Hashiveinu • Miami Boys Choir

This post is not about Hashiveinu. It's not about Shabbos Yerushalayim, the recording it appears on. It is not even about Miami Boys Choir. This post is all about Yerachmiel Begun. Because everything is, in the end, about Yerachmiel Begun.



Miraculously, he is not on this track. Enjoy!

Shoshanas Yaakov • Lubavitch UK Boys Choir

Composed by R' Sholom Charitonov of Nikolayev

Shabbos Medley • Tzlil V'Zemer III

It all started with MBD's "Uvyom Hashabbos" (Just One Shabbos, 1983) and my interest in comparing it to the Tzlil V'zemer version to hear who sang it better. In the end, the answer depends on what you mean by "better." MBD. But there's a whole lotta fun in this here Shabbos medley and I am glad to share it with you. See: Yudi Cohen, chemdas Yomim 3:46. Mwaaaah!

Good shabbos, friends and family!

Triumph Over Torquemada • Oshy TugendhaftSydenham Highlands Hebrew Congregation Choir

It's worth taking a look at the Sydenham Shul in Johannesburg, its current Chazzan Yudi Cohen and this cantorial anomaly, [the Shul's previous] Chazzan Oshy Tugendhaft. My one visit to the Shul was post-Oshy, but I've been listening to his celebration tour CD for years and sing parts of this number to Mi Angelico when her eyes fight to stay open and her head lolls to my shoulder. Just listen.

Ashrei • Yeshiva Boys Choir

You know, in case we forget to post any Yeshiva Boys Choir at all, ever, during the entire 2013? We're covered. You're welcome.

Ok, and for serious: Their sound and moves do add a little bounce to the day, and a little ache to the head.

Ki Simachtani • Pirchei

Aaaaaaaand, welcome back to 1976. With us today, a group that preceded my childhood but languished on record well into it; songs heard around the Shabbos table still. Pirchei, layduz and jennelmin...

Jews of Silence • Tzlil V'zemer 3

This post could be any of a half-dozen songs relevant to today. But it will be something that our Shliach Tzibbur was humming while wrapping up his Tallis. It is relevant in some sense to the just-passed Chanukah holiday, the present Hey Teves celebration and the court hearing that is happening today to stop the pending ban on traditional Bris Mila. "Is that really the plan?" you ask. "To ban Bris Mila?" Let's not find out. Let's not be silent, so we'll never be silenced.

Lichtalach • Tzlil V'zemer

This is the third, but never the last time that this song is posted (previously posted in 2008 and 2010). Because, really, "Aier faier is heilig un taier!"

Rock on, Jews! Be happy, be bright, be lightful!

Shomer Yisroel • Tzlil V'zemer

Volume 6. The let's-push-this-one-album-further album.

Lakol Zman • Tzlil Vezemer

I dare you not to Ahhhhh! it.

When the Siyum Calls • Yerachmiel Begun (and the Miami Boys Choir)

Ooh, ooh, let's watch it together!!

Or Chadash - Tzlil V'zemer - 3

You know how when someone proposes something and then other people think the proposal is uninformed and just plain wrong? And then the first someone yells "Ooooh!! Look at those cute kids!" and then ducks for cover? Yeah?

Oooh! Listen to these cute kids!

Maoz Tzur - London School of Jewish Song

The thing with old-school Jew music--actually, lots of music--is that is is waaaay over-orchestrated. The bass line is dizzying on this track, it's almost playing [bad] lead; the horns between every signature are simply unneeded. Happy Chanukah!