Eikha yashvah badad (Lamentations 1:1-4 and 5:21)

During the services of the Ninth of Av, the Scroll of Ekha (Book of Lamentations) is read in public according to the masoretic accents. The AAB musical form of the melody reflects the particular division of the Ekha verses into three sections. The result is a dirge-like tune in a rhythmic style that stresses the structure of the text in a manner that differs from the chanting of the other books of the Bible. The narrow range and repetitive pattern of the melody are similar to some of the qinnot (dirges) included in the liturgy of the Ninth of Av. This melody is used in Amsterdam and New York City.