{Music Recommendation} Rahel Jaskow

[LissaKay]

Oooh! Chills chills chills!

Rahel Jaskow's CD, "Day of Rest," (http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rahel) (samples available on site) consists mostly of songs for the Jewish Sabbath. Expertly recorded and mixed by fellow CD Baby artist Ray Scudero of Argaman Studios in Israel, Rahel's disc pioneers a new genre in Jewish music.

Rahel has recorded nearly every song in multiple voices, without musical accompaniment, to give the effect of a small a-cappella choir.

Rahel's clear, bell-like voice and harmonious vocal arrangements guide the listener to a quiet, tranquil place and make the spirit soar.

Although the songs are mostly in Hebrew (except "Lullaby in C," which is sung both in English and in Rahel's Hebrew translation), their message is clear to speakers of any language: to take the time to rest and refresh ourselves.



I first encountered Rahel on my blog ... she left a tagboard comment about my kitties. She came by way of Lair's (http://www.isfullofcrap.com/) Carnival of the Cats (http://www.isfullofcrap.com/oldcrap/012557.html) one time when I had a cat blogging entry. I visited her blog (http://elmsintheyard.blogspot.com/) then and read a bit ... interesting stuff there! I also made note of her CD and meant to return to check it out later ... and we all know how that goes. Lair now has her CDBaby site on his BlogAds, which I do read regularly (I swear I must have been a Jew in a previous life ... heh) and I finally checked it out. Wow ...

I must dig in the couch for loose change so I can get this CD!

[ethics]

For some reason, and maybe it's just me, but songs in Yiddish/Hebrew are just so... I don't know they just have more spirit about them, more "umph".

I mean you take Ha'Tikva and go from there. ;)

[Coot]

:thumbsup: This is a great find!! Clicking one into the shopping cart now!!

[ethics]

:thumbsup: This is a great find!! Clicking one into the shopping cart now!!

Yah, after listening to the 5th and last one, I am sold as well.

[LissaKay]

You will love shopping at CDBaby ... it's an experience like no other online shopping experience you have ever had. :)

[ethics]

You will love shopping at CDBaby ... it's an experience like no other online shopping experience you have ever had. :)

Really slick. I like how it has a time for FedEx and I even had the option to pay via PayPal. Not bad. :)

[LissaKay]

PayPal? Well sumbitch! I sold a blog template the other day, I have funds in PayPal!!! The CD is mine now! Wheeee!

[Coot]

Well, you just let us know when you come across more of these pearls, cause this one is going to commute with me for a while :happy:

[ethics]

Oh this is cute. :)

Your CD has been gently taken from our CD Baby shelves with
sterilized contamination-free gloves and placed onto a satin pillow.

A team of 50 employees inspected your CD and polished it to make sure
it was in the best possible condition before mailing.

Our packing specialist from Japan lit a candle and a hush fell over
the crowd as he put your CD into the finest gold-lined box that money
can buy.

We all had a wonderful celebration afterwards and the whole party
marched down the street to the post office where the entire town of
Portland waved 'Bon Voyage!' to your package, on its way to you, in
our private CD Baby jet on this day, Wednesday, September 22nd.

I hope you had a wonderful time shopping at CD Baby. We sure did.
Your picture is on our wall as 'Customer of the Year'. We're all
exhausted but can't wait for you to come back to CDBABY.COM!!

Thank you once again,

Derek Sivers, president, CD Baby

[LissaKay]

Told ya!

:)

[Coot]

Hey wait a second, how is your picture on the wall as "Customer of the Year", they sent me an email that said mine was ;)

[Coot]

I got it today :happy: I'm popping it in right now!!

[ethics]

I got it today :happy: I'm popping it in right now!!

Damn, still waiting on mine. :(

[LissaKay]

Grrr ... damn left coastie ...

CDBaby ships from Portland, OR. Of course those in the land of the nuts, fruits and flakes will get theirs first!

[Coot]

There are consolations to putting up with this place ;)

[ethics]

Grrr ... damn left coastie ...

CDBaby ships from Portland, OR. Of course those in the land of the nuts, fruits and flakes will get theirs first!

Yah, I figured it was geographical and nothing personal. I mean look at the nice email they sent me. They LOVE me! ;)

[ravital]

Yah, I figured it was geographical and nothing personal. I mean look at the nice email they sent me. They LOVE me! ;)
I ordered the same, got the same email, and I'm still waiting as well, but hey, they love me too! Even forwarded the email to my dad, he says it makes him want to order something from them, ANYTHING, whatever the heck it is! :cool:

[ethics]

LMAO! He is addicted!

[Coot]

Yah well, CD Baby aside, this music is just...I want to say haunting, but it doesn't go that far...I want to say blissful, but it doesn't go that far. I want to say 'reflective', but that just seems so insufficient. I'm on my 5th play, and I'm looking for more.

Someone pleae tell me tell me what it is about this music that an atheist gentile finds so soothing? :)

[ethics]

Someone pleae tell me tell me what it is about this music that an atheist gentile finds so soothing? :)

Part of the allure of that type of music (and her music specifically). I honestly don't know but it touches/scratches something you never thought you had.

[Coot]

Part of the allure of that type of music (and her music specifically). I honestly don't know but it touches/scratches something you never thought you had.
It dances on the ears, it's almost as if you understand the message without understanding the words. It causes me to want to learn Hebrew just to understand the music on a more intimate level. The music is her voice, and it's absolutely perfect, nothing is missing...anything added would detract.

[LissaKay]

Day of Rest: Translations and Summaries of the Lyrics (http://www.geocities.com/raheljaskow2/trans.html)

[ethics]

It dances on the ears, it's almost as if you understand the message without understanding the words. It causes me to want to learn Hebrew just to understand the music on a more intimate level. The music is her voice, and it's absolutely perfect, nothing is missing...anything added would detract.

Well, my own personal opinion about the language is that it was the easiest to learn from both Russian and English.

[ravital]

It dances on the ears, it's almost as if you understand the message without understanding the words....anything added would detract. You hit it right on the head. I am familiar with the words, and if you feel anything added would detract I won't translate any of it. For me, the "anything added would detract" rule applies to the music itself.

I had heard many, many such renditions when I was young and they always got on my nerves. Part of it was the proselytizing aspect of it (which Jews never heap on non-Jews, but too often are quite eager to heap on each other) being as secular as I've always been. But listening to this one I finally understand why I never liked the older renditions (we're talking 70's or so) but love this one: The older ones were much too orchestrated, much too ornate, much too distant from their simple origins as family/traditional songs to sing around the table or at feasts and weddings and such; they were pretentious, it's like they aspired to be operatic, they sounded like Broadway productions, with every musical instrument in creation going "me too! me too!"

Jaskow, on the other hand, is a minimalist on this one. Very tasteful and evocative arrangements, taking your imagination and emotions exactly where she wants you to go, but you get there because you want to, on your own. The technique of frequently switching her multiple voices from harmony to unison reminds me very much of medieval Europe's early experiments with polyphonics in both religious and "profane" (as they used to call it) music. Soothing to the ear and the brow, but with a lot of soul.

Thanks Lissa for the recommendation! :)

[LissaKay]

Soothing to the ear and the brow, but with a lot of soul.

Exactly. My CD arrived yesterday. I popped it in to the player and went about my evening chores and duties. It wasn't until later that I realized that as I fussed over my too-small kitchen, the cats under-foot, a kid sulking about doing chores and homework, too much to get done and too little time ... I was not nearly as frazzled and stressed as I usually am, and yesterday was a worse-than-usual day. Instead of flumping down in my chair when I was done and grousing about all that was going wrong with my world, I was at peace and relaxed. Yet I was energized and alert. But when pillow time arrived, I sank right into a peaceful sleep instead of lying there for another hour with all my worries churning through my brain.

I wish I had babies still that I could use this for lullabyes.

[ethics]

I wish I had babies still that I could use this for lullabyes.

LOL! I had to show this post to my wife. When I got the CD and was playing it, I thought it was PERFECT for the baby (she has been sleeping the same CD since birth). I think this would be perfect for her and tried it out and she loved it... Or she didn't wake up as much even while she has a tooth coming through.

[LissaKay]

I just sent Rahel an email telling her how much we are enjoying Day of Rest. I copied the comments you guys have made to her as well. I also commented on the diversity of this little quartet ... a devout atheist, a Jewish (by birth) Ukrainian immigrant, an Israeli immigrant, and a spiritual (non-religious, non-churchgoing) Christian ... and how her music has touched us all in very similar ways.

[LissaKay]

I just received a reply from Rahel. She said she is very pleased and moved by your comments about "Day of Rest." She asked permission to post our comments on her CD Baby site (http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rahel), but I think it would have more impact if you guys did it yourselves, ya know?


Oh, LissaKay, thank you so much for your kind words. Please thank your friends for me too.

I think it was Maimonides who said that true closeness to God transcends religious boundaries. In my music I was seeking to reach the human soul by sharing the music in my own spirit. Making "Day of Rest" was a divine gift, the result of what I see as a series of miracles, and I am so very pleased and moved every time someone tells me he or she was touched by it.

Thanks again for writing.

All the very best to you,
Rahel

P. S. Please, may I quote your comments and your friends' in the Reviews section on my CD Baby page?

[Coot]

Done, and it was my pleasure...though it says it will take a couple of days for the review to show up.

[ravital]

Lissa,

Done, it was a pleasure to do it, and please tell her thanks from me (from all of us I'm sure).

Not critical at all, but if I could impose upon your good nature a little further, you might ask her if she's considered doing something similar in the Ladino/Sepharadic vein in the future.

Thanks again for the recommendation, that was cool.

[LissaKay]

Thanks, guys ... our comments have been reviewed and posted to Rahel's CDBaby site. I just dropped her a note to let her know, and here's her response:


Thank you -- and your friends -- so very, very much. I just read your reviews and I'm so very touched.

I thank God for giving me the opportunity to reach people through my
singing.

May you and your friends, and everyone dear to you, know only good.

All the best,
Rahel


I can hardly wait to get home and listen again ... and again and again! (My car CD player is broken ... :cry: )

[Coot]

Have I mentioned lately how much I love this CD? I really don't have anything else to compare it to, but I'm quite sure it's one that I won't be growing tired of anytime soon!!