Customer Reviews

Kabbalah Music: Songs of the Jewish Mystics

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Laura Wetzler performs guitar and showcases her strong vocal talent on this album of kabbalah inspired melodies. The collection covers a variety of different composers from different time periods and countries including some of Laura Wetzler's own compositions.

A piece by the twelfth century musician Ovadia Ha-Ger one of the oldest notable pieces of Jewish music opens the album. Chassidic nigunim, songs in Ladino and Debbie Friedman compositions are also featured.

Most of Kabbalah Music exhibits Wetzler's voice with minimal instrumentation if any at all. Exceptions include a catchy number with members of The Klezmatics and L'Cha Dodi performed with members of the Abayudaya Jewish community of Uganda.

The 16th century Im Nin Alu by Rabbi Shalom Shabazi was a Jewish Yemenite standard for years and made popular by female Israeli singers, most recently the ethereal and operatic voiced Ofra Haza. In comparison I find Wetzler's version to be awful. With its out of tune inflections, it sounds like a liberal American trying too hard and failing to be authentically Middle Eastern.

But don't be turned off until you get to the unexpected Tkhine of Sarah bas Toivim, which is a haunting Wetzler singing a cappella in English about a vision of paradise inhabited by different matriarchs from Jewish history. Her voice echoes and peirces as she described her seemingly endless journey "through the next gate where I saw Deborah the prophet..." Other songs featured range from Debbie Friedman in English to Yiddish and ancient Aramaic.

You don't have to be Jewish to enjoy and appreciate this CD! Even if you don't understand Hebrew, Ladino (Judeo-Spanish,) Yiddish, (or English!) this CD is worthy of some serious listening, if only to be transported by the vocals and the worldbeat music. Laura Wetzler has done it again--delivered a musically intense, diverse, and deeply moving program with her gorgeous voice, vast range, and remarkable talent and versatility. She captures the essence of a meditation journey, starting softly, building to a crescendo, and then easing the listener back down to earth. The joy and celebration of singing and chanting 15 Kabbalistic poems and tunes from all over the world (Africa; Middle East; Europe; the U.S.), including a few of her own, is clearly conveyed. The beautifully designed, informative booklet contains explanatory and historical notes for each of the songs. I give them as gifts. Great CD! Try this!

I love this CD! It contains a beautiful blend of upbeat and smooth sounds, making it exceptional for playing anytime.

Alicia Svigals and Lorin Sklamberg of the Klezmatics and the Abayudaya Jews of Uganda perform with Laura, to make the sound of the CD worldly and FUN!

The music is based in Jewish tradition - I am non-Jewish - but that is the beauty of Laura's talent on this collection of songs - she reaches out to everyone. So....this CD is most definetly one to buy for any WORLD/New Age/Sacred Music sounding music collection.

There is a even a little folk thrown in, "Narrow Bridge, "which is to me an inspirational piece.

My friend turned me on to Laura's music - as she was playing "Songwriter's Notebook," her last CD. I couldn't help but enjoy Laura's voice, music and her cross cultural talent.

This collection of meditations, devotions and ecstacies from around the globe, mostly sung in Hebrew and English, also contains songs in Ladino, Lugandan, Yiddish and Aramaic. Wetzler was assisted by an outstanding group of musicians to create an impressive and varied album. It opens with the intense Wa-eda Ma, one of the oldest notated pieces of synagogue music discovered yet, composed by Ovadia Ha-Ger in the 12th century. The Kol Haneshama meditation with its hypnotic percussive texture draws on Psalm 150, Isaiah 6:3 and the work of two mystics from Spain.

Narrow Bridge is a Hassidic song with a jazzy feel and is followed by Laura's interpetation of Im Nin'alu, the song that made Ofra Haza famous many years ago. This version is more earthy and traditional but equally appealing. Sung entirely in Hebrew, the enchanting Bar Yochai reflect the ten Sephirot on the Tree of Life in its stanzas. The melodious music is a seamless fusion of East and West. With its buoyant percussion and engrossing textures, it has an uplifting effect on the spirit.

The words of the uptempo Klezmer Hechalot date from about 1700 years ago and it is a rhythmic number with a most joyous feel, whilst Jacob Wakes Up, an event from Genesis 28, is a tender slow song with lovely guitar. A definite highlight of the album is L'cha Dodi, where Laura is joined by Gershom Sizomu and JJ Keki of the Abayudaya community of Uganda. Sung in Lugandan-Hebrew, this is a most charming blend of African and Hebrew music with a catchy tune. As a stirring devotional to the Sabbath and the Shechina it gracefully carries the words of Salomon Alkabetz on a lilting rhythm.

The Hassidic composition Dudele is sung in a blend of Yiddish and Hebrew; it has a complex arrangement and frequent tempo changes. Ya Ribom Alam is an exuberant Aramaic praise song with an appealing melody and impressive instrumental flourishes. The album concludes with the tender and comforting Shalom Alechem, a moving prayer for protection and blessing.

The attractive CD booklet contains an introduction by Weitzler, the lyrics in Hebrew and English plus information on the writers and composers. There is also a note on the background and tradition of every song. This inspiring music has a salutary effect on the soul and is a wonderful showcase of the wealth of mystical Jewish music from different eras and areas. I also recommend The Sacred Names by Anjani Thomas for those who love mystical music in the Judeo-Christian tradition.

I bought this music CD because of the good critics in the reviews !!!! .. I'm sorry to have purchased it, the 'music' irritates me and it is absolutely no music for anytime, anyplace.
You must be a real lover for this kind of music, that's not what the reviews tell you....!!!