Lots of parents have been asking where they can get copies of the music we sing at Shirah/Tefillah (Singing/Prayer).
Clearly, we’ll have to make our own recordings one year.
Until then, here are a few CDs I’d recommend for your cars and ipods. The titles are links to where you can buy them. Let us know what you’re singing!
Shir L’Yom Chadash – A Song for a New Day
This is one of my favorite CDs to recommend. It has many songs that we sing at Shirah/Tefillah, including Modeh Ani, Mah Tovu It’s the Morning, Heivenu, and (oh, joy of joys!) The Tree Song, and more. It was made at Camp Swig, and the children sound a lot like we do – happy, slightly out of tune, and thrilled to be together. Also, you’ll hear Ethan and me sing a duet of a song Ethan wrote. It was the summer we met and fell in love…and now, we share these songs with our children. Who could resist?
Celebrate Kids: Kids’ Kosher Kuts
Many of the top American Jewish folk musicians of the last decade or so are represented in this compilation. The CD is great for learning new(ish) Jewish music. We sing “Round and Round” (“Every morning the sun comes up…”), and “Wherever You Go” at Shirah/Tefillah. Plus, there are several more songs on this album that our children will be ready for as they get older.
Look at Me!
This one is from Rick Recht (yeah, my hometown Jewish rocker. We grew up at the same synagogue.) and Sheldon Low. Probably many of you received this CD through PJ Library. I think it’s a wonderful CD for younger children, who like listening to Rick and Sheldon talk to each other, just like our children talk with their friends. The music is simple and easy to learn, with lots of Hebrew (all translated).
Debbie Friedman at Carnegie Hall
Which Debbie Friedman album to choose? It’s hard to choose a single one, since she gave us so much well-loved, singable music. Debbie’s music changed synagogue services across the country, as cantors and laypeople adopted her melodies and learned the texts she pulled from our tradition. This album is classic Debbie Friedman – tons of ruach (spirit) and a real connection with the audience.
