many aspects of Jewish music.
Listed below are some examples of his workshops, offered
in an all-day, 2-4 hour, weeklong, or once weekly format.
"Very knowledgeable teacher...Passionate about his music...
WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS' COMMENTS:
A true talent with an impressive ability to share knowledge...
Teacher's enthusiasm was infectious...
Nice mix of intellectual/historical context with singing...
It is clear he loves the material...
He made tunes that I thought too difficul to sing - easy for me to sing."
FIVE SOULS IN SONG
An Experiential Intensive
10am-4pm
Chochmat Halev Jewish Meditation Center
2215 Prince Street
Berkeley, CA 94705
510-704-9687
In this six-hour workshop, we will present the key features of this brilliant Jewish model of Consciousness, as well as explore similar insights from other World Wisdom traditions and yes, from cutting-edge science - integrating all three into our “soul-journeying.” All this will ride upon the wings of a body of exquisite music.
The songs, which are the focus of the workshop, are drawn from both traditional and contemporary Turkish, Moroccan, Andalusian, Salonican, Hasidic, and North American music, and the sacred poetry and texts come from the depths of Judaism - penimiyut haTorah - the inner Torah. As the Tikkuney Zohar has it: “Leyt machshavah tefisa vach klal” (No thought can grasp You whatsoever); accordingly, we’ll also be using niggunim (songs without words) to help us reach beyond the intellective regions of Mind.
And so, along with the ample “philosophical” teachings that support the experiential nature of the workshop, participants will leave with songs, chants and mantras for daily practice, in order to stabilize our “selves” in that which is the true goal of this intensive - the contacting of, remembering of, and living from the deeper and ever-evolving regions of our Consciousness.
All songs will be presented in their original languages, in transliteration, in English translation, and in musical notation, and are included in Hazzan Richard's new CD,
Note: Please bring a tallit (prayer shawl) if you have one.
The Jewish Mystical Tradition holds that the neshamah (soul) has five levels:
physical, emotional, intellectual, transpersonal, and "beyond.”
"The Hidden One (Hane'elam): Jewish Mystical Songs."
for more info/registration:
Chochmat Halev
Into the Depths of Jewish Musical Mysticism
Tuesday-Friday Afternoons,
eight hours of learning and singing at:
The 2009 ALEPH Kallah
Ohio Weslyan University, Delaware, Ohio
The devekut niggun (Oneness-engendering melody) is an authentic Jewish artform
We’ll learn two extended contemplative niggunim and two shorter gems, all “brought down” by such illumined souls as Reb Nachman of Breslov and The Tsemach Tsedek We’ll also present abundant teachings – "niggunology" – to support our excursions. Most songs are on Hazzan Richard’s new CD; sheet music provided.
Note: This class will davven (chant) a couple of its niggunim
more info:
aleph.org
which seeks to empower the practitioner toward ever-increasing levels of devotion, humility, in-sight, Divine stillness, soul ascension and healing - ultimately evolving into non-dual Consciousness, as expressed in the Zoharic realization "Leyt atar panuy mineh" (There’s no place empty of You).
for the whole Kallah at week's end.
Musical textures, modes (maqamat), instruments, and the inter-relationship with surrounding musical cultures are all explored.
Mainly, though, these workshops are participatory, as we learn a Moroccan
Lecha Dodi,
Adon Olam, and Eyn Keyloheynu, a Salonican Modeh Ani and Ve'Eyrastikh Li, an Afghani Le'El Adir,
and many more little known gems of Jewish Sacred Music
from Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Central Asia, North Africa,
and the Sephardim of Jerusalem.
Reb Nachman of Bratslav, the great-grandson of Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidism, inherited a profound sense of the importance and efficacy of music in spiritual practice.
This workshop will introduce powerful music from the Breslover tradition. We will learn melodies and nusach (chanting forms) by Rebbe Nachman himself, including his transcendental contemplative niggun, as well as songs by his followers. We will explore his philosophy of sound - his musical mysticism - and attempt to infuse our singing with these perceptions of inner space.
EXPLORING A CONTEMPLATIVE JEWISH MUSICAL TRADITION
This workshop will honor an all-too-often unsung hero of Jewish spiritual practice - the Contemplative Niggun. Using melody and vocalized syllables only, these extended "musical meditations without words" are designed to take the individual through many gates of awareness and states of soul elevation. We will learn and davven (prayerfully sing) several masterpieces from this genre, composed by various Hassidic masters. This workshop is appropriate for all skill levels.
the Sabbath Day. Drawing upon Middle Eastern, European, and Spanish/Andalusian traditions, we will learn several exquisite zemirot for Friday Night, Shabbat Morning and Afternoon, Havdalah, and Melave Malka times. Especially featured will be an under-exposed Yedid Nefesh by the Baal Shem Tov.
All musical levels welcome.
Cantor Kaplan is involved in teaching the Cantorial repertoire to students
across the country.
A course of study is individually designed, and may be part of an ordination process
through the ALEPH Cantorial Program.
Past Appearances. Ongoing Events. Biography. Writings.
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