Shirei David - שירי דוד

 Hi everyone, I recently recorded a new Az Yashir Moshe in maqam "mzmoum" - often sang on Shabbat Teruma but I like singing it throughout the year. Also, I recorded Birkat HaLevana sung in Moroccan Tehilim Melody. Lastly, given that it's Rosh Hodesh this week, I finally recorded the traditional "Barechi Nafshi" that is said prior to Arvit and at the end of Shaharit. See below.

 Hi everyone, I received a request to record the traditional Kadish for both Friday Night and Shabbat Morning. It was often the custom in Spanish Morocco to recite the Kadish in these tunes most weeks. They are here below. Also, Tehilim continues to be updated on its respective page.  Friday Night Kadish Shabbat Morning Kadish

 Arguably the nicest tune for Kedusha out there. Made famous by R' Haim Louk. Enjoy!

 Here is an easy piyut that can be adapted to many parts of Tefila. In the recording I sing it also to El Adon. Maqam Hijaz

 Every Parashat Vayeshev, the story of Yosef comes to light. A famous kseda was composed in his honour and is famously recorded by Jo Amar z"l. The words are in Arabic and I'm not fluent enough to recite it. But here's the tune to it in Yigdal and can also be adapted to El Adon or Kadish.

 This is such a nice tune and can only be exemplified more when in Bet Kenesset with better acoustics. Maqam - Raml Maya

 This tune for El Adon comes from the famous Ashkenazi song "The little bird is calling" and has been adapted dozens of times to other songs. In fact, I'm not so sure that's the original song of the tune. But it is gorgeous and very well loved by the congregants and listeners. In case you are looking to match it with another song, the maqam is SAHLI.

 This mizmor is said after the Beracha Me'en Sheva on Friday night. I am posting two recordings of this mizmor.  The first is the traditional Spanish Moroccan Tehilim melody. We usually sing this generally when there is no special occasion.  The second melody I reserve for either Rosh Hodesh or a special Shabbat.

This version of Agadelcha (see index for traditional version) is sang in Spanish Moroccan synagogues prior to the Korbanot of Shaharit, after the "siman." The maqam is Istahalal.

You know you're in a Moroccan synagogue, when they sing this for VeHaofanim. The tune comes from the piyut Yehida Raya, which is normally sung during a celebration for a girl's lifecycle event; baby naming and/or wedding. The last line of VeHaofanim, the custom is to change the tune to that of "Lichvod Tora" hence we sing this Vehaofanim at almost every simha in the synagogue.

Here are the first set of Pesuke DeZimra on Shabbat which begins with למנצח מזמור לדוד after Hashem Melech until Hallel HaGadol - הודו לה׳ כי טוב. Yigdal which follows Hodu, can be sung in many tunes, but the Spanish Moroccans sing the same tune each week. I did not include it in this recording as I will record it at a later time.

As mentioned in previous posts of Az Yashir Moshe, hazanim often sing the shira to different maqamim weekly. Recorded here is the shira to the maqam of Raml Maya. The first third is recorded to the tune of Dodi Yarad Legano of Parashat Bereshit/Lech Lecha. The second third (nashafta) is the tune of Bene Elyon and the final third is a faster melody in the maqam. For Az Nivhalu I add an additional tune that can be sung but it's not necessary. Type "Az Yashir Moshe" in the search button above or check the index under "tefila" to see other tunes I've recorded.

After much demand, here is the hazara of Musaf Amida for Shabbat. This completes all the Tefilot we have for Shabbat that a hazan can learn when repeating the Amida. To see/hear the rest, see the index.

Pesuke Dezimra Part One (Hodu until Lamnatzeah) Pesuke Dezimra Part Two (Baruch Sheamar until Yishtabah) I have recorded the weekday pesuke dezimra in two parts. The first part is from Hodu until Hashem Melech (lamnatzeah). The second part is from Baruch Sheamar until Yishtabah. This recording was sung fast because it was meant for weekday reading. Nevertheless, I did sing Hashem Melech, Baruch Sheamar and Yishtabah. The chapters of Tehilim beginning with Ashre followed by the Haleluyahs are also recited quickly and Be'ezrat Hashem, I will have them recorded more slowly in the near future. In the meantime you can just slow down the playback on YouTube. I must note that most synagogues don't sing Hashem Melech, Baruch Sheamar and Yishtabah on a regular weekday unless there is some sort of simha  in the synagogue. Usually, it is just read. Kol Tuv,

The prayers of Motsae Shabbat begin with Michtam LeDavid; a chapter in Tehilim in which various paytanim in the synagogue each chant one verse as a petiha. The maqam is El-Maya and therefore each line sounds the same. In my recording, I change the tune at Avarech as was custom in Spanish Morocco all the way until Neimot  which reverts back to the final concluding petiha. Normally, the Neimot Biminecha Nesah  ends abruptly in order to segue into the chapter of Tehilim following:  LeDavid Baruch...  However for the sake of this recording, I ended the chapter as if I was ending a song, but note that it's not how it's done in synagogue. French Moroccan Jews have the custom to recite the verse of Avarech also in the tune of a petiha, and then change the tune at shiviti . French Moroccan Jews have multiple tunes of Shiviti throughout the year, while Spanish Moroccans only sing one tune (the one I recorded). This isn't easy to learn and master, but with lots of practi...

For our 2nd installment of the Amida series on Shabbat, here is the Amida repetition ofMinha of Shabbat. Generally, it's a lot easier to learn Minha than Shaharit simply because it's shorter. But in reality, it's the same tune just different words in the middle section.

After lots of demand, here is the Hazara of the Amida for Shaharit of Shabbat. Moroccan Jewry have the nicest Hazara Amida in the world. I'm confident in that statement. When learned properly it can be really beautiful.

There is no official tune for Birkat Hamazon for Moroccans. I give lots of credit to my Ashkenazi brothers for founding a beautiful catchy melody for this integral part of Judaism. What I've done was taken their tune and adapted it to the standard Sephardic words. (note: The Moroccan version of Birkat Hamazon, has some slight variations and additions). Finally, after adapting it to the words, I made sure to add some Moroccan twists to it. Hope you enjoy! (The birkat hamazon, was recited with weekday words, not Shabbat)

This classic song written in old Spanish used to be sung for the bride before her wedding. Today, many Moroccan Jews have the custom to sing it at the Henna ceremony or at the wedding. In short, we tell the bride that the material figures in life are of least importance and all what matters is being thankful to Hashem our God. The maqam of this song is misirki. I like to sing this tune during Hallel since the chorus contains the words of הודו לה' כי טוב. I would open with a petiha  for הללו את ה' כל גוים and then continue with this tune beginning with Hodu, continuing through min hametzar  and ending with ze hayom asa adonai . In this recording I continue using the tune straight until the end of Hallel. However, as many are accustomed to, after ze hayom , we go back to pithu li  and repeat it using a different tune. In honour of Rosh Hodesh Shevat, I post this today for your learning pleasure.

This Yigdal in maqam mzmoum I heard from Rabbi Eliyahou Elbaz from France, one of the great hazanim of our generation. Although I never met him personally, I confirmed with one of his students (which I met recently) that indeed he sings this a lot. The tune comes from one of the songs of Sami El Maghribi z''l. (if you are aware of the exact name of the song, please send me a note in the comment box. I'd love to know) Towards the end, I switch the tune to "Meshe Yah Asur" - part of the Koudam el Jdid compilation which is also in maqam mzmoum. I hope to record the entire Koudam el Jdid in the near future.