T'filat Tal Tein - Prayer for Dew - תפילת טל
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- Опубликовано: 28 авг 2024
- This beautiful poem attributed to the 6th-century poet, Eleazar Kalir, pleads for the dew to come, and provide a successful harvest. Dew, as much as rain, was essential for the crop to grow.
The melody is composed by the modern British composer, Stephen Levey, to draw the listener's imagination to the vast English countryside.
The middle section is a short niggun (wordless melody), that I introduced, to engage the congregants in participation and song.
Together with the gorgeous venue provided by New London Synagogue, it was the perfect combination of serenity and spirituality.
Performers:
Ayala Gottlieb Alter - Vocals
Yoav Oved - Vocals
Bonnie Scott - Harp
Technical:
Anton Califano - Videographer and Editor
Peter Hajioff - Sound Recording and Engineer
Venue: New London Synagogue
To support Stephen Levey, purchase the music here:
stephenleveymu...
#prayerfordew #tfilattal #stephenlevey #newlondonsynagogue #jewishmusic #harp
Music is subjective. When composing this music I took a different view. This is very much a picture of rural Britain in the springtime. That in itself requires predictability. The music for me evokes the hills, the new life that spring brings and the dew which will help to sustain that life. It was written for a young boy and chazzan. The boy representing the future. I do like this cover of my song and thank you for posting it.
The composer's perspective always adds depth. Thank you for your comment Stephen
I have always sung this Tal since first hearing Eli Baigel perform it with Johnny Turgel at the Shabbaton. Thank you Stephen!
Where can one purchase the sheet music for this?
Beautiful! Well done Yoav and Ayala
Thank you Ashley! As a music lover, your words mean a lot
Well done, amazing performance!
This is just so beautiful. I have only just discovered Tefilat Tal and this composition (sung by male singers in another recording) is the first that I have heard. Before I found out who the composer was - as well as being very haunting, and evocative, the melody ( and countermelody) seemed also to be so interesting musically and as far as I can make out is in three different modes of the same key - Dorian, Aeolian and major (not sure if this is correct)- and reminded me so much of some of the more beautiful of the English folk song melodies. If the intention is to give a picture of the rural Britain in springtime then this is exactly how I felt when listening to it! Lovely also to hear one part sung by a woman.....
Caroline ! This comment is so well thought out and considered. Loved the idea around the Aeolian, Dorian and Ionian which I had not considered before.
You should ask @stephenlevey who commented in here, or email him.
His page is linked at the bottom of the description
Beautiful, intimate performance which definitely evokes spring and the morning dew. There is such a tenderness and intimacy which would have been lessened if more performers and instruments etc had been added. The harp works perfectly and really allows the voices to shine; nothing more is needed! I used this as a lullaby, and it worked wonderfully, so thank you! Mazleltov on a very special performance, I feel very lucky to be able to watch this any time. All very talented people! Laila tov xx
Ha! Never thought of it as a lullaby, and everyone will find a different aspect to it.
Love that we can inspire you to listen to good Jewish music, and happy to have put this online ❤️
@Yoav Oved thanks so much 🙏 ☺️ and yes, indeed some of the very best musicians ever have been jewish! Bob Dylan (Zimmerman) and Leonard Cohen are my two all time favourites. True poets, true musicians, true originals. Looking forward to watching more of your videos, I have subscribed and have shared with friends and family ❤️
Absolutely gorgeous setting ❤
It really is! Thank you David
Beautiful! Thank you
This is, I think, stunning and evocative and quite beautifully sung. I feel the coming season, the hearing and the sense of a world about to burst into a brighter future. Thank you
Wow, thank you! Such a great vision for a world to come!
Oh, beautiful, lovely. Thank you so much! To be honest, whether the music evokes dew, the countryside, or whatever is for me rather irrelevant. I agree with the comment below that appeals to the largely subjective nature of music, or at least what it *evokes*. I can hear there echoes of English folk rhythms, but also a distinctly traditional Jewish musical flavour too. And, yes, as someone with Welsh connections the harp goes down extremely well. I like all that. But I like most of all the gentle sensitivity of young people combining with great sensitivity to create this beautiful piece. And, yes, it is a performance. It is a performance for G-d, but also to express and honour an ongoing and vital irrepressible Jewish presence in the world, including the natural world. Sorry to disagree with another contributor, but I really think it does not need a congregation or an audience here! So - at this difficult time since October 7 2023 - thank you, thank you again. And may G-d bless you and keep you and your loved ones safe in His eternal loving care.
Gosh, Paul, thank you for taking the time to write such a lovely comment. I am so glad the entire video moved you to write these beautiful thoughts.
Everything in it was chosen with love and care, making sure to bring out the best in the music and the emotions.
Hope you will like other videos coming out. Thank you again
I thought that was absolutely beautiful. Not sure that I wanted to see all the add-ons which added nothing to the atmosphere of the music. Claire
They were a second thought add-ins, but completely see you point, Claire. Thank you for your valuable input
I find the singing beautiful and the vocal blends are perfect and both singers are to be praised. But, for me, the melody doesn't evoke the tender magic and the lively mystery of dew. It's quite a flat, predictable melody - quite unlike springtime and definitely unlike dew. If it's recorded again, could it have a congregation? It's so sad to see two people singing and a harpist playing in an empty synagogue. If not, at least an empty field!
Thank you for the comment Angela. Your feedback is always appreciated!
For future recordings, we might consider putting in some congregational involvements.
This is just the first of many more ideas 💡 if you have in mind something to record, please do send it my way