Hava Nagila
  Israeli music |
|---|
| Religious |
| Secular |
| Israel |
| Dance |
| Music for holidays |
"Hava Nagila" (Hebrew: הָבָה נָגִילָה, Hāvā Nāgīlā, "Let us rejoice") is a Jewish folk song. It is traditionally sung at celebrations, such as weddings, Bar and bat mitzvahs, and other Jewish holidays among the Jewish community. Written in 1918, it quickly spread through the Jewish diaspora.
History
[edit]"Hava Nagila" is one of the first modern Jewish folk songs in the Hebrew language. It went on to become a staple of band performers at Jewish weddings and Bar and bat mitzvah celebrations.
The melody is based on a Hassidic Nigun.[1] It was composed in 1918 to celebrate the Balfour Declaration and the British victory over the Ottomans in 1917. It was first performed in a mixed choir concert in Jerusalem.[2]
Abraham Zevi Idelsohn (1882–1938), a professor at Hebrew University, began cataloging all known Jewish music and teaching classes in musical composition; one of his students was a promising cantorial student, Moshe Nathanson, who with the rest of his class was presented by the professor with a slow, melodious, 19th-century chant (niggun or nigun) and assigned to add rhythm and words to fashion a modern Hebrew song. There are competing claims regarding "Hava Nagila"'s composer, with both Idelsohn and Nathanson being suggested.[3][4]
The niggun has been attributed to the Sadigurer Chasidim, who lived in what is now Ukraine.[3] This version has been recreated by Daniel Gil, based on a traditional song collected by Susman Kiselgof.[5] The text was probably refined by Idelsohn.[6] Members of the community began to immigrate to Jerusalem in 1915, and Idelsohn wrote in 1932 that he had been inspired by that melody.[2]
Lyrics
[edit]| Transliteration | Hebrew text | |
|---|---|---|
| Hava nagila | הָבָה נָגִילָה
|
Let's rejoice |
| Hava nagila | הָבָה נָגִילָה
|
Let's rejoice |
| Hava nagila ve-nismeḥa | הָבָה נָגִילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה
|
Let's rejoice and be happy |
| (repeat) | ||
| Hava neranenah | הָבָה נְרַנְּנָה
|
Let's sing |
| Hava neranenah | הָבָה נְרַנְּנָה
|
Let's sing |
| Hava neranenah ve-nismeḥa | הָבָה נְרַנְּנָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה
|
Let's sing and be happy |
| (repeat) | ||
| Uru, uru aḥim! | !עוּרוּ, עוּרוּ אַחִים
|
Awake, awake, brothers! |
| Uru aḥim be-lev sameaḥ | עוּרוּ אַחִים בְּלֵב שָׂמֵחַ
|
Awake brothers with a happy heart |
| (repeat line three times) | ||
| Uru aḥim, uru aḥim! | !עוּרוּ אַחִים, עוּרוּ אַחִים
|
Awake, brothers, awake, brothers! |
| Be-lev sameaḥ | בְּלֵב שָׂמֵחַ
|
With a happy heart |
Melody
[edit]![\header { tagline = ##f }
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global = { \key g \minor \numericTimeSignature \time 4/4 }
chordNames = \chordmode { \global \set chordChanges = ##t \set midiInstrument = "acoustic guitar (nylon)"
\repeat volta 2 { d,1\ppp | d, | c,:m | d,4 c,:m d,2 | }
\repeat volta 2 { d,4. c,8:m d,2 | c,4.:m g,8:m c,2:m | c,1:m | d,4 c,:m d,2 | }
g1:m | g:m | \repeat volta 2 { g:m | } \repeat volta 2 { c:m | } d:7 | d | g2.:m s4 \bar "|."
}
sopranoVoice = \relative c' { \global \autoBeamOff \set midiInstrument = "clarinet" \tempo 4 = 108
\repeat volta 2 { d4 d4. fis8 es d | fis4 fis4. a8 g fis |
g4 g4. bes8 a g | fis4 es16 d es8 \tempo 4 = 114 d2 | }
\repeat volta 2 { \tempo 4= 120 fis8 fis4 es8-. d-. d-. d4 es8 es4 d8-. c-. c-. c4 |
c es8. d16 c8 c g'4 | fis es16 d es8 \tempo 4 = 126 d2 | }
\tempo 4 = 132 g2 g | <g bes,>4 <g bes,> <g d > <g d > |
\repeat volta 2 { g8 g bes8. a16 g8-. bes-. a-. g-. | }
\repeat volta 2 { a a c8. bes16 a8-. c-. bes-. a-. | }
a a \tempo 4 = 54 d4\fermata \tempo 4 = 108 d,8 d \tempo 4 = 54 d'4\fermata |
\tempo 4 = 108 r8 d, d d bes' ([a g fis]) | g2. r4 \bar "|."
}
left = \relative c { \global \clef bass \set midiInstrument = "vibraphone"
\repeat volta 2 { d,8 d' a d d, d' a d | d, d' a d d, d' a d |
c, c' g c c, c' g c | d, d' c, c' d, d' a d | }
\repeat volta 2 { d, d'4 <c c,>8 d, d' a d | c, c'4 <g' g,>8 c,, c' g c |
c, c' g c c, c' g c | d, d' c, c' d, d' a d | }
g, g' d g g, g' d g | g, g' d g g, g' d g |
\repeat volta 2 { g, g' d g g, g' d g | }
\repeat volta 2 { c,, c' g c c, c' g c | }
<d d,>4 r4 <d d,> r | d,8 d' a d d, d' a d | g, g' d g <g g,>4 r \bar "|."
}
verse = \lyricmode {
Ha -- va na -- gi -- la, ha -- va na -- gi -- la.
Ha -- va na -- gi -- la ve -- e -- nis -- me -- ḥa.
Ha -- va ne -- ra -- ne -- nah, ha -- va ne -- ra -- ne -- nah.
Ha -- va ne -- ra -- ne -- nah ve -- e -- nis -- me -- ḥa.
U -- ru, u -- ru a -- ḥim!
U -- ru a -- ḥim be'lev sa -- me -- aḥ.
U -- ru a -- ḥim be-lev sa -- me -- aḥ.
Uru a -- ḥim, uru a -- ḥim b' -- lev sa -- me -- aḥ.
}
\score {
<<
\new ChordNames \chordNames
\new Staff \sopranoVoice
\addlyrics \verse
\new Staff \left
>>
\layout { }
}
\score { \unfoldRepeats { << \chordNames \\ \sopranoVoice \\ \left >> }
\midi {
\context { \Score midiChannelMapping = #'instrument }
\context { \Staff \remove "Staff_performer" }
\context { \Voice \consists "Staff_performer" }
}
}](http://upload.wikimedia.org/score/a/z/azpr9khq2oivj2fha9099ioxguv2vpg/azpr9khq.png)
Notable performers
[edit]- Israeli folk duo Ran & Nama (Ran Eliran and Nechama Hendel) released what is likely the earliest recording of the version that was later made famous throughout the world, on their album Ran & Nama – The First Record (Hed Arzi AN-42-70, 1959).[7]
- Singer Harry Belafonte is known for his version of the song, which was recorded for his album Belafonte at Carnegie Hall, recorded at the titular Carnegie Hall in 1959.[8] He rarely gave a concert without singing it, and stated that the two "stand out" songs from his professional career were "The Banana Boat Song" and "Hava Nagila".[3][9][time needed][unreliable source?] Belafonte noted and claimed, "Life is not worthwhile without it. Most Jews in America learned that song from me."[10]
- Laurindo Almeida[9][time needed]
- The Barry Sisters[9][time needed]
- Nissim Black, a Jewish Orthodox rapper, recorded an adaptation titled "The Hava Song".[11]
- Bruno Blum included an instrumental ska section of the song[12] in his version of French singer songwriter Georges Brassens' "La Mauvaise Réputation" [Bad Reputation] on his 2002 album Think Différent.
- Brave Combo[13]
- Glen Campbell[9][time needed]
- David Carroll[9][time needed]
- Jasper Carrott (on his 1976 album, Carrott in Notts)
- Chubby Checker[9][time needed]
- Herman Clebanoff[9][time needed]
- Carmela Corren – Israeli singer[14]
- Celia Cruz[9][time needed]
- Dick Dale and the Del Tones (surf rock)[9][time needed]
- Dalida, 1959[9][time needed]
- Neil Diamond, in addition to having performed Hava Nagila in his 1994 Live In America concert,[15] incorporated it into The Jazz Singer, based on Samson Raphaelson's play, in which he acted out a cantor with popular-music ambitions.
- Dream Theater performed a cover of "Hava Nagila" in Tel Aviv, Israel, on 16 June 2009.[16]
- Bob Dylan[9][time needed]
- The E Street Band with guest accordionists performed it at a Bruce Springsteen concert in Sunrise, Florida, on 9 September 2009.[17]
- Percy Faith[9][time needed]
- Irving Fields[9][time needed]
- Four Jacks and a Jill released a version of the song on their 1965 album, Jimmy Come Lately.[18]
- Connie Francis[9][time needed]
- Lionel Hampton[9][time needed]
- Lena Horne, "Now!" (US #92, 1963)[9][time needed][19]
- Abraham Zevi Idelsohn published the Hebrew song book, Sefer Hashirim, in 1922, which includes the first publication of his arrangement of "Hava Nagila". He also produced the first commercial recording in 1922, on the Polyphon record label ("Order No. 8533"), as part of a series which recorded 39 Hebrew folk songs.[20]
- Los Iracundos[9][time needed]
- Kare and the Cavemen[9][time needed]
- Bert Kaempfert[9][time needed]
- Harold Land[9][time needed]
- James Last[9][time needed]
- Abbe Lane[9][time needed]
- Jon Lord of Deep Purple included Hava Nagila in his solo keyboard improvisations as heard on Made in Europe (1975).[21]
- Arthur Lyman[9][time needed]
- Betty Madigan, "Dance Everyone Dance" (US #31, 1958)[19][page needed]
- Shelly Manne[9][time needed]
- Mantovani[9][time needed]
- Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, who recorded the song live for the album Ruin Jonny's Bar Mitzvah. They also recorded a second version on the same album to the tune of Feliz Navidad.[22]
- Pérez Prado[9][time needed]
- Flora Purim[9][time needed]
- Ivan Rebroff[23]
- Frank Slay and his Orchestra, "Flying Circle" (US #45, 1962)[19][page needed]
- The Spotnicks[24]
- Pete Townshend, whose ability to play the song was instrumental to his induction in The Who.[25]
- Richard Tucker[9][time needed]
- Caterina Valente[9][time needed]
- Rika Zaraï[9][time needed]
Use in sports
[edit]Association football
[edit]Ajax Amsterdam
[edit]Supporters of the Dutch association football club AFC Ajax, although not an official Jewish club, commonly use Jewish imagery. A central part of Ajax fans' culture, "Hava Nagila" can often be heard sung in the Stadium by the team's supporters, and at one point ringtones of "Hava Nagila" could even be downloaded from the club's official website.[26][27][28]
Tottenham Hotspur
[edit]Supporters of the English football club Tottenham Hotspur commonly refer to themselves as "Yids" and say they are strongly associated with Jewish symbolism and culture. "Hava Nagila" has been adopted as an anthem of sorts by the club, and was one of the most frequently sung songs at the team's former stadium at White Hart Lane.[29][30]
Gymnastics
[edit]In the 2012 Summer Olympics floor exercise final, Aly Raisman placed first with a score of 15.600,[31] becoming the first American woman to win a gold medal on the floor exercise.[32] She performed to the tune of "Hava Nagila".[33]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Loeffler, James. "Hava Nagila's Long, Strange Trip. The unlikely history of a Hasidic melody". myjewishlearning.com.
Like many modern and popular Jewish songs, Hava Nagila began its life as a Hasidic melody in Eastern Europe.
- ^ a b Seroussi, Edwin; Loeffler, James. "The Secret History of 'Hava Nagila'". Tablet. Archived from the original on 20 September 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ a b c Roberta Grossman, Director/Producer; Sophie Sartain, Writer/Producer (2012). Hava Nagila (The Movie). Los Angeles: Katahdin Productions, More Horses Productions. OCLC 859211976. Archived from the original (NTSC B&W and color, widescreen, closed-captioned) on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
The song you thought you knew. The story you won't believe.
- ^ "Film Hoists 'Hava Nagila' Up Onto A Chair, In Celebration Of Song And Dance". NPR. 28 February 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
- ^ Daniel Gil (6 November 2019). "'Hava Nagila' – The Original, & Unaltered Hasidic Melody". patreon.com. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ^ Yudelson, Larry. "Who wrote Havah Nagilah?". RadioHazak.com. Archived from the original on 29 July 2008. Retrieved 8 November 2007.
- ^ Ran & Nama discography at Discogs
- ^ Belafonte, Harry (1959) Belafonte at Carnegie Hall: The Complete Concert (LP) RCA Victor LOC-6006
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad "Hava Nagila, What Is It? (Part I)" on YouTube
- ^ Leland, John. (2004) Hip: The History, New York: HarperCollins, p. 206.
- ^ Adkins, Laura E. (9 December 2020). "Orthodox rapper Nissim Black's new single, 'The Hava Song,' remakes 'Hava Nagila' just in time for Hanukkah". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ https://brunoblum.bandcamp.com/track/hava-naguila-la-mauvaise-r-putation
- ^ "Hava Nagila Twist", on The Hokey Pokey: Organized Dancing (1991)
- ^ Carmela Corren – International (1963) Ariola 70354 IU at Discogs
- ^ Neil Diamond: Live In America 1994 on YouTube
- ^ Dream Theater: vídeo de música Judaica no show em Israel, luew, 19 June 2009
- ^ Bruce Springsteen "Hava Nagila" live Sunrise, Florida 9-09 on YouTube
- ^ Four Jacks and a Jill, Jimmy Come Lately Retrieved 13 May 2015
- ^ a b c Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- ^ "Abraham Zvi Idelsohn: The Thesaraus of Jewish Music & Hava Nagila". seligman.org.il. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
- ^ "Set Lists 1968 to 1976". The Highway Star. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
- ^ "Ruin Jonny's Bar Mitzvah". Fat Wreck Chords. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
- ^ Ivan Rebroff – The Very Best of Ivan Rebroff (1990, CD) at Discogs
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 521. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Rogovoy, Seth (12 November 2019). "The Secret Jewish History of The Who". The Forward. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
- ^ "Amsterdam Journal; A Dutch Soccer Riddle: Jewish Regalia Without Jews" by Craig S. Smith, The New York Times, 28 March 2005.
- ^ "Hava Nagila!", Nieuw Israëlietisch Weekblad, 15 October 2013
- ^ "Waar komt de geuzennaam 'Joden' toch vandaan?", Het Parool, 1 February 2014.
- ^ Promised Land: A Northern Love Story, Anthony Clavane, 12 February 2014
- ^ "The Yid Army's chants turn anti-semitism into kitsch banter". Financial Times. 20 September 2013.
- ^ "London 2012 – Gymnastics Artistic – Women's Apparatus – Final – Floor Exercise" (PDF). fig-docs.com. August 7, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 22, 2012.
- ^ "Raisman earns two medals at 2012 Olympics: Team USA's first ever gold medal on floor, bronze medal on beam". Usagym.org. 7 August 2012. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
- ^ Allison Kaplan Sommer (30 July 2012). "Jewish gymnast Aly Raisman dances 'Hava Nagila' to Olympic glory". Haaretz. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
External links
[edit]
- Hava Nagila's Long, Strange Trip at My Jewish Learning
- Hora Music, How do you sing and dance "Hava Nagila" – lyrics and steps
- Who wrote "Havah Nagilah"?
- Hava Nagila at HebrewSongs.com
- Historical research includes first recording of Hava Nagila
- Romani version of "Hava Nagila" (Aven, rromalen)
- Harry Belafonte sings "Hava Nagila" with Danny Kaye (1966) on YouTube
