Songs Composed by the Chassidic Masters

Reb Shaya Tzaddikim Album Demo by Reb Shaya

The foundation of the Chassidic movement is the concept of the Tzaddik, the leader of each particular group who elevates and inspires his followers to higher spiritual levels. Chassidus is also unique in its emphasis on music as a means of serving G-d.

The cornerstone of the Chassidic movement is the Tzaddik, the leader and sage who connects his followers to Hashem and brings down His blessings into the world.

Some of these rebbes were also very talented composers of Chassidic melodies, and these songs are especially treasured for their depth and beauty. Some are familiar throughout the Jewish world, and some are known only to a limited group. This album presents a full hour of these masterpieces, in a contemporary arrangement that we hope brings out the true dynamic of these powerful, deep melodies. We hope listening to them will be an inspiring and elevating experience.

In this album, we have drawn from a number of these songs, attributed to some of the most famous tzaddikim, all the way back to the Baal Shem Tov himself, the founder of the movement. (Sometimes there is disagreement about exactly who composed them, since this is a totally oral tradiction.) Others were created by some of the first leaders: the Mezritcher Maggid (successor to the Baal Shem Tov), his students Reb Shmelke of Nikolsburg, the Koznitzer Maggid and the Baal Hatanya (the “Alter Rebbe” of Lubavitch), and his son Reb Avrohom the Malach (“the Angel”). The most recent lived during the first half of the 20th century: Reb Yisroel of Modzitz (whose musical tradition is extremely rich to this day), and Reb BenTzion of Bobov (who died in the Holocaust). Others included here include Reb Moshe of Kubrin and the celebrating Reb Yisroel of Rizhin, both from the early 19th century.