Oseh Shalom-He Who Makes Peace (Hebrew prayer by 3 Cantors)

Mee too Leeza. I can imagine all of use singing praises to God and many of the songs will be ones like this. I am sure there will be much music in Heaven.

Before the Israelites went out to war notice the Musicians went before them and in the Temple the Levites had various tasks and some of them were only musicians that played worship music.

1CH 6:31 These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the LORD after the ark came to rest there. 32 They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon built the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them.

1CH 6:33 Here are the men who served, together with their sons:
From the Kohathites:
Heman, the musician,
the son of Joel, the son of Samuel, etc...


When they rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem they had a dedication with Choirs that worshipped God.

NE 12:27 At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres. 28 The singers also were brought together from the region around Jerusalem--from the villages of the Netophathites, 29 from Beth Gilgal, and from the area of Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. 30 When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they purified the people, the gates and the wall.


NE 12:31 I had the leaders of Judah go up on top of the wall. I also assigned two large choirs to give thanks. One was to proceed on top of the wall to the right, toward the Dung Gate. 32 Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah followed them, 33 along with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, 35 as well as some priests with trumpets, and also Zechariah son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph, 36 and his associates--Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah and Hanani--with musical instruments prescribed by David the man of God. Ezra the scribe led the procession. 37 At the Fountain Gate they continued directly up the steps of the City of David on the ascent to the wall and passed above the house of David to the Water Gate on the east.

NE 12:38 The second choir proceeded in the opposite direction. I followed them on top of the wall, together with half the people--past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall, 39 over the Gate of Ephraim, the Jeshanah Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate. At the Gate of the Guard they stopped.


Music is a big thing down here I can only imagine how much it will be present up in Heaven and it will be so melodic and beautiful beyond anything we have heard on this earth.

I am very pickey with Messianic music as I think some of it is really modern and performed. I have a few websites where oridnary Jews/Christians/groups not actual Performers have done rough recordings of themselves. I love finding accapella versions of many hymns or Christian songs done as part of a service. Again they are more likely to be God centered and simple rather than a polished performance.

I have been a Vocalist and Choirister since my childhood and been a professinal Soloist mainly opera & musicals. Done some other genres/styles of vocal performing. My favourite was when I was part of a gospel accapella group.

I must admit I do like a few of Amy Grants songs.

Most of my collection most people would say is quirky, eclectic and not in the mainstream of what other Christians listen to and don't get me started about Hillsong (do not listen to them at all on principal).

I find things that tend to be not very well known or artists that few people have come across.

What beautiful voices these cantors have. I cannot carry a tune so really enjoy listening instead to those who can carry a tune. I think it is a beautiful gift you have from God Melissa, the ability to sing.

It intrigues me that Jewish music is written a minor key.

Lily

We mainly did various composers pieces rather than operas people are familiar with and believe me unless you were a fan of opera or classical music much of what I did would put you to sleep.  However you don't get to choose what you sing when you are mainly in the choir you are happy to be part of a production.  We did some Celtic composer in Celtic not translated to english as some are and that was the hardest other language piece I had to do.  We did show tunes or Gilbert & Sullivan or pieces from musicals.  Whatever was being put on is what you sang and every year of course Christmas Carols for secular audiences.  I have sung in cathedrals doing various religious pieces. Whatever you got you did & that is how it is.  Some people got to do some great things & some didn't.  I can say I was passionate in those days and everything I got I threw myself excitedly behind because I loved singing and performing.

I have done a number of Masses and people paid to hear them (why I do not know).  One example is the Nelson Mass and probably a work some people might know.  I got sick on a number of occassions when doing Handels Messiah I ended up doing the rehearsals & not the performance.  This was when God decided through sickness to end my singing career as I was getting too worldly and walking away from my faith.  Got my voice back only in recent years and I can perform again but only for Church functions.

My voice is in fine form and getting better.  I have done a couple of solo performances.


Singing is great when you are healthy & if it is God's will you can have a career in it. 

Singing is a business and performing takes a lot of practice and dedication.  Some people are fortunate to be the right flavour for audiences or those producing an opera or musical decide that they want you over so many hopefuls.  Let me tell you that you can meet some really nice people and then there are the sleezey ones and the absolute obnoxious people and those so hungry to become the Prima Dona they will do anything (& I mean watch your water bottle) to their competition you have to watch your back. 

I was not self assured enough to step forward for main roles.  It was easier for me to be the lead Solo Sporano in the Choir.  I have been encouraged by a number of people to do auditions and even got a few good parts and then chickened out.  It was better for me I didn't end up being a professional singer.  God kept me under his wings and I was led in another way and I can see NOW what God was doing.  God protected me from being chewed up and spat out.  I have friends who are musicians and dancers and performers and singers.  They have had terrible times dealing with rejection and some ended up going down a dark path.  I had Jesus and was kept safe in his arms.  Not many of my secular friends in the industry have survived in the industry and like me eventually had to find oridnary jobs.  I was taken out early and I was saved that kind of pain.  Even the ones who did fairly well today have a lot of regrets and I am glad some of them have come to Jesus finally. 

The suicide rate amongst people who don't make it as entertainers is pretty high.  If they don't do themselves in intentionally many die from overdose of drugs or alcohol plays a big part in their deaths.  Many of them are not happy people.  You are young and full of life going into this lifestyle but you quickly get burned up by the industry.  Some end up finding enough work to make it a paying career but too many don't.

I have friends I sang with at some top venues, opera houses, town halls and other large performance theaters.  These days they sing mainly in clubs around Australia and other smaller venues.  They get few gigs and I can say they are not as exuberant about their singing as they were when they first started.

Lily

yes God protects us from ourselves. Praise the lord. God's plans and purposes for our lives are far better than our own. I have learned that over time. I have had to repent for the bitterness I initially had and being sick especially with ear, nose and throat infections (the bane of many a Singer).

Instead God has been teaching me His Word and how to live a life pleasing to Him and how to pray. Prayer is something I do so much of and I have been lately gone back through scriptures on Singing Praise & Worship to the Lord. You get a deeper level of understanding every time you go back over scritpures. I got so much more out of it this time. A few new things about heart attitude when praising and worshipping God also it's importance when praying for some spiritual breakthrough or for spiritual protection.

God keeps us walking his paths of righteousness for His names sake. (from psalm 23).

Thanks for sharing Lily. I love it when people share a testimony it is very encouraging to me and lifts me up in the Lord. ((hugs))