Ya meḥayei alnafos (He who gives my spirit life)

Ya meḥayei alnafos (He who gives my spirit life)

Written by Shalem Shabazi

Performed by Menahen Arussi and the Kiryat Ono man's ensemble

Ya meḥayei alnafos (He who gives my spirit life)

Written by Shalem Shabazi

Performed by Zadok Zubeiri


Girdle poem in Arabic and Hebrew by Shalem Shalazi, signed Alshabazi Mashta. It expresses the yearnings of the people of Israel for their metaphorical beloved (God) and a prayer for redemption. It is usually sung during the seven feast days of a wedding and on any other occasion. In the two following performances each of these versions is repressed: Menahem Arussi and his ensemble sing a stanza in Arabic followed by one in Hebrew, whereas Zadok Zubeiri sings only the Hebrew stanzas.


6. Menahen Arussi and the Kiryat Ono man's ensemble sing the first stanze in Arabic and the ninth in Hebrew. The soloist opens with the first verse, and from the second onwards the ensemble sings a response: the soloist sings the opening hemistich, and the ensemble responds with the closing hemistich. The melody is in flowing rhythm. The ninth stanza is sung to a new, rhythmic melody, with drum accompaniment. Arussi concludes with a repetition of the opening verse, followed by the blessing Vekulkhem berukhim.


7. Zadok Zubeiri sings verses of his own choice from stanzas 8 and 9. He begins the first verse of the eighth stanza with the melody with which he began the previous version, but switches to another melody as soon as he reaches the closing hemistich. Next, the first verse of the ninth stanza is sung to a new melody, rhythmic and accompanied by a drum; then the first melody in the last verse of the eighth stanza is heard again. Finally, the second verse of the ninth stanza is sung to a fast melody, and followed by a repetition of the opening words: shur dodi hadar tzivya (behold my beloved, the glorious hart).

 

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