The Music of VBS

Music plays a great role within VBS culture. The sounds of VBS are unique to our synagogue; our melodies carry with them our history and soul.
 

VBS Cantor Phil Baron (see bio) has written and recorded a number of soundtracks, which can be sampled in the playlists below. He has also composed a number of productions receiving national publicity including David's Quilt, an original libretto about biblical King David that premiered at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. Click here to learn more about Cantor Baron's role in David's Quilt >

VBS is also home to long-time Cantor Herschel Fox. Cantor Fox (see bio) infuses his music and service leading with true Yiddishkeit and soulful passion. He also directs the VBS children’s Chazzanut (cantorial) class which helps lead Shabbat morning services.

Our Artist-in-Residence Asher Levy brings a unique talent and perspective to Judaic melodies. He was recently published in Tablet Magazine (click to read more). Click here to view Asher perform "Eli Yah Eli" Live Corazon Los Angeles 2018 >

Former VBS Music Director Chris Hardin is a composer, orchestrator, music director, conductor and performer. Click here to learn more >

The introduction of our T'marim Sephardic Shabbat Service in 2017, a collaboration of Cantor Baron and Asher Levy, gained the attention of the Jewish Journal. Click here to read the article >

Experience the music of VBS at our wide variety of prayer experiences, including Shabbat morning main sanctuary services, and Friday evening Rimonim, T'marim and Farbrengen. Learn more about our service options by clicking here.

Listen Now: 

T'marim

Adon Haselichot

Rimonim

On the second Friday of each month, we gather for a musical Shabbat service that will leave you transformed. Reach into your soul through song, prayer and dance. Click here to learn more about Rimonim >

Listen to the audio tracks below by clicking on each link title:

1. Fly Away (Ara Dinkjian)
2. Shalom Aleichem (Shmuel Brazil)
3. Y'did Nefesh (Ehud and Sara Zweig)
4. L'chu N'ran'nah (R. Zirotkin)
5. Shiru L'Adonai (Psalm 96) (Shlomo Carlebach)
6. Ohr Zarua (traditional)
7. Shiru L'Adonai (Psalm 98) (Moshe Nathanson)
8. Havu L'Adonai (Shlomo Carlebach)
9. L'cha Dodi (Phil Baron and Chris Hardin)
10. Ahavat Olam (Eric Mandell)
11. Mi Chamocha/Malchutcha (Stephen Schwartz, Phil baron and Noreen Green)
12. V'shamru (Moshe Rothblum)
13. Chatzi Kaddish (Phil Baron)
14. Aleinu (Phil Baron and Chris Hardin)
15. Adon Olam (Phil Baron and Chris Hardin)

Produced by Cantor Phil Caron and Chris Hardin

Ayekah

In preparation for the High Holidays in 2016, VBS unveiled a multi-platform, immersive campaign to draw our community together and gain collective perspective, inspiration and self-discovery. This carefully thoughtful soundtrack of spiritual “nigunim” were used for meditation, contemplation, and reflection. Click here to learn more about Ayekah >

Listen to the audio tracks below by clicking on each link title:

1. OLAM CHESED (Menachem Creditor)
2. THE LADDER (Mordechai Twersky)
3. MEDITATION (Phil Baron)
4. M’LO CHOL HA’ARETZ (Phil Baron)
5. NIGUN (Shlomo Carlebach)
6. HALLELUYA (Phil Baron)
7. YA SH’MA (traditional)
8. AYEKAH (Phil Baron/Asher Levy)

CREDITS
Cantor Phil Baron (vocals)
Asher Levy (guitars, oud, mandolin, harmonium, piano)
Jamie Papish (percussion)
Miguel Atwood Ferguson (viola, violin)
Norik Manukyan (duduk, shvi, clarinet, zurna)
Kiernan Weggler (cello)
Additional vocals – Liza Baron, Marc Ginsburg, Shana Leon, Asher Levy
Recorded and Mastered by Tom Weir at Studio City Sound, Los Angeles
Produced by Phil Baron and Asher Levy
Manufactured by Private Label Music

VBS Tfilot

Listen to the audio tracks below by clicking on each link title:

1. Adonai Z'charnu
2. Aleinu
3. Amidah Weekday
4. B'tseit Israeil
5. Bar'chu Friday Night
6. Bar'chu Weekday
7. Baruch Sh'amar - B'rachot Only
8. Baruch Sh'amar - cut version
9. Baruch Sh'amar
10. Blessings after the Haftarah
11. Birchot Hashachar
12. Birkat Hamazon
13. Blessings before the Haftarah
14. Chatzi Kaddish
15. Hal'lu - from Hallel
16. Hal'lu
17. Havdalah
18. Hodu
19. K'dushah Weekday
20. Kaddish Shaleim
21. Ki L'cha Tov
22. L'ma'an Tizk'ru
23. Ma Ashiv LaAdonai
24. Mi Chamocha Weekday
25. Modeh Ani
26. Odcha Ki Anitani
27. Pitch Li - Aloni
28. Pitchu Li - Carlebach
29. Sh'ma - V'ahavta
30. Shabbat Candle Blessing
31. Tallit Blessing
32. Torah Blessings
33. Torah Service
34. V'shamru - Kiddush
35. Vayikra

Cantor Herschel Fox

Listen to the audio tracks below by clicking on each link title:

•  TSENA
• SIMON TOV
• HAVA NAGILA

High Holidays

Listen to some of the traditional Selichot melodies recorded by Artist-in-Residence, Asher Levy

• Anenu
• Adon HaSelichot
• Ben Adam
• Lema'anekha Elohai
• Mi El Kamokha
• Ya Shema' Evyonekha

Former VBS Music Director Chris Hardin

1. Adon Olam
2. Ahavat Olam
3. Ana B'coach
4. Barchu
5. Hashkiveinu
6. Koh Amar
7. L'cha Dodi
8. L'chu Neranna
9. Shalom Aleichem
10. Shalom Rav
11. V'shamru

Musical Musaf Coming soon!

Meditation Coming soon!