When the first Journeys album debuted, it was something entirely new: heartfelt music set to original English lyrics, in a language and style that felt current and American but still eminently Jewish to thousands of fans. That secret formula marks just about every melody created by Abie Rotenberg — from kiddie fare to kumzitz classics.
He comes bearing gifts — a handful of CDs and the much-coveted Journeys Songbook — and he’s also brought “protection”: longtime producer and close friend Mutty Grunberg of M&M Enterprises who in his other life travels the world as a mashgiach kashrus. Mutty has just returned from Tibet where he tells me he supervised the milking of yaks.
It’s a great way to get us going this morning — probably fodder for another article! I know I’ve wanted to talk with Abie Rotenberg ever since I first listened to his hypnotic music. How I have marveled time and again does he do it? How does this Los Angeles-born Toronto-based businessman use his spare time to create such a wide variety of songs spinning the words themes and tunes so enchantingly that the mind and soul cannot help but be stirred to inspiration and even change?
Abie’s sincere soft-spoken words shine a spotlight on the art of music-making the messages behind his songs and even the future of Jewish music. This is a rare concert low-key but powerful and much of it is performed backstage. We begin at the beginning with the essence of music and Abie is — well amazingly Abie. Thoughtful contemplative creative and totally refreshingly real.
He sets the stage, like any self-respecting musical storyteller would, with a rich metaphor. “Music is like a spice,” Abie says. “Food is bland without seasoning, and life without music would be no different. Music magnifies our sadness and sense of loss when we sing about the Churban, just as it generates intense happiness and the urge to dance when joyously played at a simchah. You can enhance inspiration and emotion with music, and it’s such a wonderful vehicle for enriching our lives. If you’re singing about emunah to the tune of ‘Ani ma’amin,’ the impression it makes on your neshamah is greater, simply because of the music. Or when you sing a song that expresses love for the Ribono shel Olam, like ‘Avinu Malkeinu,’ or for Torah, like ‘Mah ahavti sorasecha,’ the love and feeling reach a completely different level.”
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