ROBERT COHEN: Open the Gates!

Robert Cohen

Open the Gates!

© 2005 Sterling Media Productions (634479037405)

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

A compilation CD of some of the "heart music," both intimate & exuberant, that American Jews pray to today -- in English & Hebrew -- & incorporating diverse American musical styles: Hasidic, a cappella, bluegrass, country, & world music

tracks

1 Adonai S'fatai - Craig Taubman
2 S'fatai Tiftach - Hanna Tiferet Siegel
3 Ilu Finu - Linda Hirschhorn
4 Beyond Twelve Gates - Michael Shapiro
5 Lechah Dodi - Yitzhak Husbands-Hankin
6 Woman of Valor - Elizabeth Swados
7 Eishet Chayil - Beat'achon
8 Shalom Aleichem - S. Brazil/Regesh
9 Yismechu - R. Solomon/Safam
10 Eits Chayim - Tanchum Portnoy
11 Mi Chamochah - Kenny G/Bruce Benson
12 Yibaneh - Fabrangen Fiddlers
13 Pitchu Li - Y. Rosenzweig/Diaspora Yeshiva Band
14 Hallelukah - A. Weinreb & J. Goodman/Kolos
15 Hinei Keil Y'shuasi - B. Chait/Dveykus
16 Birchot Havdalah - Debbie Friedman
17 Ein Keilokeinu - Shlomo Carlebach
18 Adon Olam - M. Rabinowitz/Shir Hadash

notes

A compilation CD of American-Jewish “heart music”, both intimate & exuberant, that American Jews today
* pray to
* dance to
* meditate to
* seek healing to

"Open the Gates! has opened MY gates, and given me comfort, joy, and healing" — a listener

18 tracks by 18 different artists & groups:

Shlomo Carlebach * Debbie Friedman * Craig Taubman
Fabrangen Fiddlers * Diaspora Yeshiva Band * Liz Swados * Kenny G


“What is so refreshing about OPEN THE GATES!, apart from its eclectic variety, is that it is traditional & at the same time modern, musically, instrumentally, & lyrically.”
— Theodore Bikel

Jewish bluegrass & Jewish country / Jewish “world music”
English & Hebrew Hasidic chants / a cappella harmony singing


“Without exaggeration, I have listened to my CD for hours on end — tapping, humming, dancing, chanting, & praying. You really have opened the gates of this woman's heart — traditional words of many decades blended with different notes, instruments, & voices enhanced in a new way, a happier way to express my yearning to be closer to God.” — a listener


plus: “New Wings for Our Prayers” (liner notes) — reflections on Jewish soul music today

“There are intensely beautiful gems in this collection of Jewish songs.” — Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul & Mary)

reviews

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  • THE GATES DID OPEN
    author: Donna R. Divine

    This is a great cd. I wish there were more like it.

  • author: Jean Zimmermann

    What an incredible CD. I happened across it by accident, listened to the availble track excerpts and knew I had to own it. When a second volume is released I want to get it. If you love traditional and funky music, this CD is for you.

  • I love this CD, I was so happy to find it. I
    author: Monica

    I love listening to this CD, and was hoping there is a volume 2. If there is, I will definately buy it. thanks

  • Such a great & varied collection of soulful Jewish music--a fantastic CD!
    author: Rabbi Neal Kaunfer, Board of Jewish Education of Greater NY

    A fantastic CD! Such a great & varied collection of soulful Jewish music -- I'm enjoying it immensely, listening over & over. Brings a lot of joy, to the heart and soul. Before you know it you'll be humming the uplifting melodies!

  • A tremendous joy to listen to!
    author: Karen Christ, Worcester, MA

    It is difficult to find words to adequately describe the beauty of this CD. I appreciate and respect the premise of the CD itself- New American Jewish Music for Prayer - and am so happy about the variety of music/musicians chosen for inclusion on it. While there is certainly something here which will cater to everyone's taste, the heartfelt performances are what make this CD memorable. I was privileged to "listen in" on some personal conversations with Hashem!

  • OPEN THE GATES! has opened MY gates & given me comfort, joy, and healing
    author: Reena Keren

    I could write so much more about your rich collection of soulful, prayerful niggunim. OPEN THE GATES! has opened MY gates, and given me comfort, joy, and healing. Much of the music is already part of my "life dance." It's an awesome CD.

  • traditional and at the same time modern-musically, instrumentally and lyrically
    author: Theodore Bikel

    What is so startlingly refreshing about OPEN THE GATES!, apart from its eclectic variety, is that it is traditional and at the same time modern, musically, instrumentally, and lyrically. This makes it accessible even to those who have little or no linguistic or religious handle on this material.

  • For anyone keeping up with trends in Jewish music, this is essential!
    author: Seth Rogovoy, Berkshire Jewish Voice

    Robert Cohen has compiled a terrific representation of new American-Jewish prayer music, ranging from the a cappella stylings of Beat'achon to the soulful Orthodox rock of Regesh to the Jewish pop-jazz of Kenny G and Bruce Benson, Appalachian mountain music, and banjo-laced "rabbinical rock." As a snapshot of where this genre stands today, it is unparalleled and invaluable. And for anyone interested in keeping up with trends in Jewish music, it is essential listening.

  • "an incredible compilation album ... an unbelievable collection of music"
    author: Gili Houpt, NYC Jewish Music

    Jewish Music Album of the Week: "Open the Gates," an incredible compilation album by Robert Cohen, Folk Music Historian, writer, and Lecturer, of 18 Jewish songs from 18 different artists across the spectrum of Jewish music, from Safam to Diaspora Yeshiva Band to Dveykus, Shlomo Carlebach to Debbie Friedman to Michael Shapiro. For Shabbat: there's a beautiful Lecha Dodi from Yitchak Husbands-Hankin, Eishet Chayil a cappella with Beat'achon, and Shalom Aleichem by Shmuel Brazil and Regesh. But even better than this unbelievable collection of music (already the best from the best), are the extensive liner notes, with biographical info on every artist and song, and a full introduction essay on the nature of Jewish music.

  • "There are intensely beautiful gems in this collection of Jewish songs."
    author: Peter Yarrow (Peter, Paul & Mary)

    There are intensely beautiful gems in this collection of Jewish songs. You will feel the sorrow, the hope and the joy of generations past--Such is the gift of this music and of those who gave their talents to this remarkable project. If you are not Jewish, if you do not understand one single word being sung, the gift is nevertheless there for the taking.

  • Love it, just what I expected
    author: Luis Carmona

    I'm working on conversion at the moment and needed this CD to help me with the prayers. Thanks

  • I liked this CD
    author: Eileen Carman

    I really like this CD. I listen to it to enter a meditative mood. I had not heard many of this particular melodies and it was a great experience to enjoy them.

  • great!
    author: phyllis darman

    Enjoyed it-felt like I was in Temple!

  • By Opening the Gates, you have opened my heart to your music.
    author: jeanne rudnick

    Without exaggeration, I have listened to my CD for hours on end--tapping, humming, dancing, chanting, and praying. You really have opened the gates of this woman's heart, clearly longing for a different form of spiritual enhancement--traditional words of many decades blended with different notes, instruments, and voices enhanced in a new way, a happier way to express my yearning to be closer to Hashem. Thank you.

  • Gorgeous music, with a wonderful range of styles.
    author: Judy Stein

    I think the phrase that clinched my determination to buy this CD was "Jewish bluegrass"--I'm a huge bluegrass fan, but I didn't know there was such as thing as Jewish bluegrass--and what's on the CD is fabulous. I know virtually nothing about Jewish music, traditional or non-. (I'm not even Jewish, for that matter.) Nor am I particularly devotional by nature, but I love devotional music of all kinds; the devotional inspiration seems to me to make it better music. At least, it makes it music I tend to delight in, and what's on this CD is truly delightful. I was almost as impressed by the introductory essay as by the music. It's learned, thoughtful, inspirational, and loving, all at the same time. I'm looking forward to a more reflective hearing of the music along with a perusal of the notes on the specific pieces. Robert Cohen has done a really fine job on this. I very much hope he'll be able to produce sequels. I'll get 'em all.

  • It is as appealing for its musical qualities as its spiritual
    author: Scott Alarik, Boston Globe, 1/16/02

    "Many will be surprised at how well produced and beautifully arranged most of the 18 selections are....The music is unmistakably Jewish, both in its melodicism and religious lyricism, but with alluring splashes of contemporary folk-pop, jazz, bluegrass, cabaret, even reggae. It's as appealing for its musical qualities as its spiritual."

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