Listening to Sonny Rollins play saxophone with Leonard Cohen on “Who By Fire”. It’s maybe no great accomplishment to be in awe of a song whose lyrics derives expressly from the liturgy of the Days of Awe. And Cohen’s use of Jewish references wrapping around contemporary themes is a continuing source of strength (it’s the basis of my go-to playlist for introspective walks on the High Holidays). But this version with Sonny Rollins adds a different, wordless route to spirituality in the song. As angels go both up and down on Jacob’s ladder, then imagine that Rollins’ saxophone goes up and down the scales to free us from language and lift us above what we can say and, perhaps, even consciously think. Jazz and music generally achieves that. But folk and jazz and prayer are an unusual combination and maybe that’s why to me this is, to use another Cohen title, a tower of song. -- Jonathan S., Chestertown, MD

When I was six years old, my grandfather got a second-hand Victrola from a man he had befriended in Brooklyn. He brought me a Beatles album and of course I wore that one out. . .we didn’t have the money for luxury of buying record albums.

But, my mother had collected the Broadway cast albums of every musical she had seen between 1949 -1957 and there was one more. . .some red vinyl singles of classical music. And I pulled out something by Rachmaninoff - The 18th Variation on a Theme by Paganini and I had never heard anything as beautiful as those very few minutes that so deeply touched such a very little girl (one barely exposed to classical music) to her core.

I slept with a small transistor radio (another second-hand gift from my grandfather) under my pillow, paying music all night and very soon I found that nothing was as important or more moving or soul-stirring or soul-soothing to me than music.

As a first grader, I didn’t think there could possibly be another piece of music with otherworldly beauty. How soon I discovered that the world was filled to the brim, overflowing with music of every genre and from all over the world that would one day fill me with similar Awe.

I could write a list so filled with seemingly incongruous choices that some might find themselves utterly baffled. But I hear, feel and experience the awe in so many forms, styles and imaginings in music and I consider it one of the greatest blessings in my life.

Grandpa, you were so beloved by your customers, they often gave you gifts, like that portable RCA record player and every new Beatles album that came out. And many years later when I longed to make some music myself, my grandfather found a way to finagle a slightly damaged student cello so I could discover the awesome feeling of making music with others. And with the endless treasure trove of music that I love, I can still say without hesitation that when I found that tiny bit of excruciatingly beautiful Rachmaninoff, I understood the meaning of “awe” long before any child my age could define it in words.

Listen. I think you’ll be amazed to experience the awesomeness just as I did, so very, very long ago... -- Roni C., Las Vegas, NV

Hearing Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now" recently -- it gave me chills. The song and its meaning, her performance, the fact that I heard her sing this years ago and now she's performing it for the first time in 20 years. It's breath-taking. -- Leah F., Toronto

Koolulam's work is definitely a mixture of "collective effervescence" and music in the awe it emanates.  This "Al Kol Eileh" just transports me to another place. It conveys the sweetness and the sadness of Israel's history in one soaring piece. I feel like I take it all in when I hear this song. -- Abigail R., Cincinnati, OH

When I heard your performance of Hashkiveinu on Erev Rosh Hashanah, it filled me with awe with the beauty of your voices, and the words of the prayer. It also filled me with awe because of how you articulated the words and the song’s sweeping melody, just adding to that night’s experience for me. -- Tess M., USA

"When You Believe" from The Prince of Egypt should be awe-inspiring to all. The Passover story in Exodus. If you pray long enough for what you want, even if you’re afraid and feel hopeless, if you believe, don’t give up, a miracle will happen. Steven Schwartz brilliantly included Hebrew: "Ashira l'Adonai ki gaoh gaah - I will sing to G-d / Mi chamocha ba-elim adonai / who is like you, G-d?" Moses was saved to free his people. Although lied to and raised as an Egyptian, when he heard his calling, he went listening to G-d, saying "I am here / Hineini." If you’re in despair, hang in there, someone will help you. This is not a personal story, but a worthwhile thought that one day, we will pray for a miracle and will have an awesome experience because we believed so strongly. -- Meryl D., New York, NY