11 April 2017

The Northwood & Pinner Liberal Synagogue (NPLS) Online Music Library will launch at the Liberal Judaism Day of Celebration, on Sunday June 11, giving LJ members access to hundreds of songs.

The library is thanks to the tireless work of Ruth Colin, who took over the NPLS choir (pictured) in 2003 from founder member, and current tenor section stalwart, Alan Lewis.

Ruth grew up absorbing the music at NPLS, so she was fascinated to find filing cabinets of, often not very legible, music that was “kind of what we sang in services, but not quite”.

With a member’s support, NPLS purchased a computer music writing programme called Sibelius, and Ruth began gradually writing up their tunes to be legible and arranged to how they are performed at NPLS currently.

A labour of love, that has taken many years, Ruth has now digitised the scoresheets for Shabbat, festivals, High Holy Days and celebration services. As Liberal Jewish music constantly evolves, so the project is ongoing with new composers and pieces being added.

Ruth said: “Through developing technology we are making good progress in making the NPLS choir and library completely paperless. With the ability to use tablets to read music, and easily produce and distribute a bespoke order of service for choir members with the tap of a screen, the new online library has the potential to revolutionise the way we access music for our services in our communities. It will also continue to keep Liberal Judaism on the leading, modern edge of Jewish provision in the UK.”

The library will launch at the Day of Celebration, which is being held at NPLS. If you are interested in signing up for access, please email Ruth at music@npls.org.uk.

Additionally a team of NPLS choir members, led by Clive Sofaer and Brian Sass, continues to run an outreach programme to support smaller communities in getting to grips with the music NPLS has produced.

The Day of Celebration is Liberal Judaism’s flagship event of 2017. Tickets are available now and can be purchased from https://doc2017.eventbrite.co.uk/.