The CD liner notes include an introductory letter by Norma Brooks, "Impressions of the Composer's Work" by Ramón Tasat, background and liturgical context for each song and Hebrew text with line-by-line English translation by Professor Everett Fox. Hear the CD Your Bountiful Light (Mituv Nehorakh), which is expanding the boundaries of Jewish liturgical music in congregations across the county. This new music invites you to become part of prayer. "The music has vitality and limpid simplicity and
invites even the most unmusical bystander to sing along. That invitation
was made clear in the excellent performances . . . and a standing-room
audience clearly enjoyed joining in.
Her [Brooks'] melodies, sung
without accompaniment, have a separate and vigorous life of their own."
These 14 songs, composed as gifts to friends and family, are inspired by texts from the siddur (daily and Sabbath prayer book) and mahzor (High Holiday prayer book): "In these original liturgical works, Norma
Brooks has created a bridge that weaves the ancient words of Jewish liturgy
with compelling melodies in a variety of musical styles. The result is
both unique and unerringly right. Brooks' music, along with the stunning
arrangements of cantors Ramón Tasat and Natasha J. Hirschhorn,
helps us to see possibilities in Jewish liturgy that we didn't know were
there." |