Jewish Music

This collection of solo guitar pieces are based on the late 20th Century American Jewish liturgical music of Debbie Friedman; best known for her songs that transformed Jewish worship and gatherings to a more participatory and spiritual plane. One of the less credited reasons for the lasting impact of so many of her songs are the truly lovely, memorable and moving melodies.  These pieces stand on their own as beautiful instrumental pieces in secular as well as sacred contexts. 

I am proud to present these solo guitar pieces commemorating and memorializing some of Debbie's most well-known and loved melodies. And, for those who know these songs, there is the added enjoyment of the “ghost” lyrics. Due to unique characteristics of the guitar, multiple variations of a melody in different keys are presented which offers different technical challenges and sonorities.  

1. L’Chi Lach …you shall be a blessing… (1:43) 
2. Ahavat Olam …unending is love… (2:28)
3. Oseh Shalom …hopes for peace… (Vars. 3 & 4)  (3:16)
4. Mi Shebeirach …a song of healing… (Var. 2) (1:30)
5. Hodu …giving thanks… (Var. 3) (1:32)
6. Light These Lights …hear our hopes… (Var. 1) (2:04)
7. Mi Chamocha …who is like Thou… (2:02)
8. Modim …giving thanks… (2:07) 
9. V’Ahavta …thou shalt love… (Vars. 1 & 2)  (2:26)
10. V’Sham’Ru …keeping the covenant… (Var. 1) (3:14)
11. Oseh Shalom …hopes for peace… (Vars. 5 & 6)  (3:09)
12. Miriam’s Song …and the women danced… (1:36)
13. Mi Shebeirach …a song of healing… (Var. 1) (1:49)
14. V’Ahavta …thou shalt love… (Var. 3) (2:12) 
15. Hodu …giving thanks… (Vars. 1 & 2) (3:01) 
16. Oseh Shalom …hopes for peace… (Vars. 1 & 2)  (3:16) 
17. Light These Lights …hear our hopes… (Var. 2) (2:04) 
18. V’Sham’Ru … keeping the covenant… (Var. 2) (3:14)  

Recorded January 2015-November 2016, Peradam Productions, Atlanta, Georgia.

Guitar: Avant-Garde Crossover I, Cervantes Guitars, San Diego, California.

Mastering: Tom Washatka, Steel Moon Recording, Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Compositions © 2015 Joseph L. Marks and The Farf, Inc.

Produced 2017 by Classical Guitar Remix Productions LLC, Marietta, Georgia.  

The Classical Guitar Remix studio specializes in arrangements adding contemporary orchestrated “kick” to the solo classical guitar.    

1. L’Chi Lach …you shall be a blessing… (1:43) 
2. Ahavat Olam …unending is love… (2:28)
3. Oseh Shalom …hopes for peace… (Vars. 3 & 4)  (3:16)
4. Mi Shebeirach …a song of healing… (Var. 2) (1:30)
5. Hodu …giving thanks… (Var. 3) (1:32)
6. Light These Lights …hear our hopes… (Var. 1) (2:04)
7. Mi Chamocha …who is like Thou… (2:02)
8. Modim …giving thanks… (2:07) 
9. V’Ahavta …thou shalt love… (Vars. 1 & 2)  (2:26)
10. V’Sham’Ru …keeping the covenant… (Var. 1) (3:14)
11. Oseh Shalom …hopes for peace… (Vars. 5 & 6)  (3:09)
12. Miriam’s Song …and the women danced… (1:36)
13. Mi Shebeirach …a song of healing… (Var. 1) (1:49)
14. V’Ahavta …thou shalt love… (Var. 3) (2:12) 
15. Hodu …giving thanks… (Vars. 1 & 2) (3:01) 
16. Oseh Shalom …hopes for peace… (Vars. 1 & 2)  (3:16) 
17. Light These Lights …hear our hopes… (Var. 2) (2:04) 
18. V’Sham’Ru … keeping the covenant… (Var. 2) (3:14)  

Backgrounds for L’Chi Lach, Mi Chamocha, Miriam’s Song and Oseh Shalom 5 & 6 performed and mixed by Michael Kates, Peradam Productions, Atlanta Georgia.

All others by Classical Guitar Remix Productions, Marietta, Georgia. 

Audio samples and individual tracks and PDFs of the charts are available at OySongs.

Audio also available on Apple Music and many other streaming services.