A new CD collection: “Songs of the Bible”

The collection, distributed by the Tav HaShemini company in collaboration with Reshet Gimmel, includes more than 110 songs, from the time of the establishment of the State to our day. Well known singers like Shoshana Damari, Matti Caspi, Gali Atari, Arik Einstein, Nomi Shemer and Yehoram Gaon sing alongside lesser known singers. Of course, the various groups that appeared on the stages of this country also make their appearance.

Very valuable for all those interested, including those who are still learning Hebrew, is the booklet that is attached to the collection and in which one can find not only all the words of the various songs but also the Biblical references, explanations for each song, who wrote it, who sings it and when it was performed for the first time.

In the introduction to the booklet, the editor of the collection, Ofra Helfman of Kol Yisrael, writes: “Until the end of the fifties the Biblical songs were in fact tunes that were written for Biblical verses. However, afterwards, people began to write songs about the Bible and the glorification of its heroes. People also began to dare to look at the TaNaKh with humor, criticism and, with time, even protest according to the criteria of our time, while the musical styles transformed themselves as was fitting to the period: folk songs, military band tunes, ballads, pop and rock.

The first three CDS include songs inspired by the Bible whereas the last two include songs that cite Biblical verses. This collection, in our slang, is simply “magniv”.