Hijaz - حجاز

Introduction

Hijaz - חג'אז - refers to Saudi Arabia, which is still known as the Hijaz.

This maqam, which originated in Saudi Arabia, has become linked with death and sad occasions by the Syrian Jews (and not necessarily the remaining non-Jewish Arabic traditions).

According to the Jews of Damascus, the only Shabbat of the year that Hijaz is used is Debarim. According to Gabriel A Shrem, Hijaz in its purest form should only be used for Debarim, and for the rest of the weeks, Hijaz should be mixed with Bayat.

The Jews of Damascus only use Maqam Hijaz for Shabbat Debarim.

Other maqamat in the Hijaz family are: Shahnaz, Suzidil, or Zanjaran.

Hijaz tetrachord: starting on D

Index

Pizmon	Page	Song	Commentary	Recordings	Application
566	473	אזכיר תהילות	Raphael Tabbush Acrostic (follows the Aleph Bet pattern). Contains the 10 Sefirot. Tabbush Manuscript	David Sebi Y. Bozo	פזמון
567	474	עטרה לישנה יה החזר	Attiah Manuscript Ezra Attia Manuscript Abraham Sitehon Manuscript Shire Zimrah, Algiers, 1889 British Library Or. 10375	Arabic
568	475	היכלי נרמס		Arabic Recording David Masri
569	475	יחלצון	Maqam Shehnaz Tabbush Manuscript	G. Shrem G. Shrem Recording Maury Blanco	נשמת
570	476	אשאל מאל אב הרחמן	British Library Or. 10375 British Library Or. 10375 - Arabic		נקדישך
571	476	אל רם נורא ואיום	Raphael Tabbush Maqam Shehnaz Yom Kippur. Tabbush Manuscript	G. Shrem Recording G Shrem- Semehim I Cabasso- Pizmon & EH I Cabasso- Naqdishakh	שמחים
572	477	ירצני אהוב יה אלי	Yehudah Ben Noah Maqam Shehnaz Yabess Manuscript	I. Cabasso Recording Maury Blanco
573	477	חמלתך שים על עבדך		Arabic Maury Blanco
574	478	רבת שבעה	Raphael Tabbush High Holidays. Borrows the melody of the Spanish song "Mis Hermanos" ("My Brothers"). Tabbush Manuscript	E. Menaged - Qaddish I. Cabasso G. Shrem Recording Recording- Qedusha I Cabasso G Shrem G Shrem	נקדישך
575	479	עזרני אל חי	High Holidays. Arabic is "Ya Farid El Hosn Ashaq Gamalak." Sung here by Mounirah Al Mahdeya.	G. Shrem G. Shrem Recording Arabic: Ya Farid G Shrem- including Qaddish G Shrem	שועת עניים
576	479	אב הרחמים
577	480	שלח סגני ידידי	Moses Ashear “Shelah Segani Yedidi” (HIJAZ, page 480), which uses the Arabic melody “Abat Selami Ma’ Sidi,” is composed by H Rephael Tabbush. It has references to Pinehas, the hero who initiates the campaign to avenge God’s honor in Numbers 25. This song is used for the PIZMON SEFER TORAH on Shabbat Pinehas. In this 3 stanza poem, with the acrostic: Shadai (שד״י), we request God “to send a helper” like “the Son of Elazar” (Pinehas) so that “we may bring the tithe (Ma’aser)” to the City (Jerusalem) on the festivals. At times we ask “Why did God leave me?” We are confident, though, that God, “from up above” (north), will send His “right hand” person to “re-establish us,” and “reveal his kindness all around us.” The song concludes with a hope for redemption, with the acknowledgement that I (the author) “am Your servant,” and with the prayer for God to always have mercy on His beloved nation. This melody can fit into Nishmat or El Hahodaot, but it is rarely used, because the "Maqam of the Week" for Shabbat Pinehas is SABA, not HIJAZ. Ashear Manuscript	David Sebi Arabic Recording D Kassin - Nishmat	פזמון
578	480	יה נרי יה		M. Mustachi M. Mustachi 2
579	481	אתה רוממה אתה	Tabbush Manuscript	I. Cabasso I. Cabasso 2	שמחים
580	482	רודף צדק ומשכיל	Raphael Tabbush Shabbat Vayehi. Tabbush Manuscript	I. Cabasso Recording	ממצרים
580.01	482a	יחיד ורם		Recording Isaac Cabasso
581	483	יה אלי נהלל לו	Shabbat Shirah. Found in Pizmonim book of 1856. Attiah Manuscript Abraham Sitehon Manuscript	I. Dayan	שועת עניים
582	483	יחיד נא	Raphael Tabbush The initials at the beginning of each stanza form the acrostic 'Refael'. Tabbush Manuscript	M. Nadaf G. Shrem Recording Y Nahari	אל ההודאות
583	484	מהונך תעשר	Tabbush Manuscript	M. Nadaf E. Menaged G. Shrem Recording
584	484	אתוהי כמה רברבין	Raphael Tabbush This pizmon (HIJAZ, page 484), whose title translates as "How Great Are His Signs," is written by H Raphael Tabbush. This song is unique in that it is one of our shortest pizmonim (only 20 words; 10 words in each of the two stanzas), and it is one of the only ones to be written in Aramaic. The melody is from the Arabic song "Ahwa Al-Ghazal Al Rabrabi," and can be transcribed into Nishmat or Naqdishakh. The opening words of this song are based on Daniel 3:33. After seeing how God saves Hanania, Mishael, and Azaria from the burning furnace, Nebuchadnessar praises God, 'How great are His signs! How mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is everlasting, and His dominion is over every generation!' The first stanza describes how God's glory is displayed through His miraculous signs. Although both Israel and the angels sing praises to God, it is Israel that God favors, because according to the Talmud (TB Hullin 91b), the angels only start praising God in the Heavens once Israel initiates the praises down on Earth.	M. Nadaf E. Menaged E. Menaged 2 E. Menaged 3 Recording I Cabasso - Nishmat 1979 Choir	נשמת
585	485	רוכב עבים	Raphael Tabbush Shemini Asseret.	E. Menaged G. Shrem Recording I Cabasso H Abraham Zafrani	שועת עניים
586	485	יה גאלי צרים	Tabbush Manuscript	G. Shrem G. Shrem Recording H Abraham Zafrani
587	486	אם חכם לבך בני	Abraham I Antebi The pizmon, "Eem Hakham" (HIJAZ, page 486), is composed by H Abraham Isaac Antebi (1765-1858), the former Chief Rabbi of Aleppo (starting 1817), and composer of many pizmonim. This pizmon is first found in his book "Ohel Yesharim," published in 1843, and has been included in most handwritten manuscripts of this time period. Many of Antebi's books had the word "Ohel" in it, because this Rabbi witnessed a massive earthquake in Aleppo causing most of the city to become refugees and live in tents ("ohel"). The content of this pizmon is a letter from a father to his son (on his wedding day) asking him to follow his advice on how he should live his life and bestowing him with the many blessings of Abraham and Isaac. This father tells his son that while he should always pursue wisdom and sciences, he should always "know" the God of his forefathers. The melody of this pizmon is from the Arabic song "Ya Sukri Yabu il Shemat." This melody can be applied to El Hahodaot on weeks of Maqam HIJAZ. Attiah Manuscript Abraham Sitehon Manuscript Mosseri-Kozli Manuscript British Library Or. 10375	G. Shrem Recording	קדיש
588	487	עליון על כל רמים	Shabbat Hazon. Ezra Attia Manuscript Abraham Sitehon Manuscript	G. Shrem G. Shrem Recording	נשמת
589	488	עליון ונאדר		E. Menaged E. Menaged 2 E. Menaged 3	כתר
590	488	אור הנעלם	א''ב Tabbush Manuscript	E. Menaged Another Recording - Hahodaot G. Shrem I Cabasso- Pizmon & EH	כתר
591	490	שמח נפשי	Shelomo Hazaq Arabic is : Qado Kal Mayas.	Fule Yanani E. Menaged Elekha Kamah- E. Menaged G. Shrem Recording I Cabasso- SA Shelomo Tob Cohen	ממצרים
592	490	ראה בחלשי	Raphael Tabbush	E. Menaged
593	491	ישיר ישראל	Israel Najara Maqam Shehnaz	G. Shrem G. Shrem
594	492	רנו גילו	Raphael Tabbush This pizmon (HIJAZ, page 492), composed by H Raphael Antebi Tabbush, is a song written for Purim. Unlike other Purim songs, most of which are in Maqam SIGAH, this song is classified as Maqam HIJAZ; a maqam typically reserved for sad occasions. The acrostic of this piece is "Raphael Hazaq," and consists of 5 stanzas; corresponding to the letters of the author's name. Each stanza is followed by the chorus which begins with the words "Zekher Sadiq Yarum Hodo" etc. The song opens on a happy note ("Proclaim joy and rejoice all creations"); calling onto all the creations of the world to recognize the miracle of Purim. The middle of the pizmon is about the hard times and suffering that Haman put the Jews through ("the enemy conspired to be the head"). The last stanza ends on a hopeful note; calling for the Messiah and the rebuilding of the Temple so that we can offer sacrifices again. The melody of this song is applied to either Naqdishakh on Purim or Keter on Shabbat Zakhor. Tabbush Manuscript	E. Menaged Yosef Hamaoui Yosef Hamaoui - Qedusha Fule Yanani Tawil- Qedusha G. Shrem Recording Y Nahari M Kairey	נקדישך
595	493	בואו נספר	Hoshana Raba. Yabess Manuscript A Z Idelsohn notes, 1923	G. Shrem G. Shrem Recording
596	494	מרומי ברך	Moses Ashear In honor of Hebrat Qahal Qadosh Magen David. This was "The Song" that he made for the inauguration and the song that stuck as the Magen David Theme Song.	G. Shrem	שמחים
597	495	מושיעי יה	Moses Ashear Ashear Manuscript	Arabic
598	496	יה לגני בא נא יה	Moses Ashear Ashear Manuscript	G. Shrem Isaac Cabasso- Nishmat
599	497	יחלתי צורי לעבדך	Moses Ashear The Arabic is a DOR entitled G'alt Higri. Here it is sung by Mohamed Salim. Ashear Manuscript	Mohamed Salim
600	497	יחיד מלך נאמן	Moses Ashear Wedding. Ashear Manuscript	M. Nadaf M. Nadaf 2	שמחים
602	498	מהר חביבי	Moses Ashear Ashear Manuscript	G. Shrem Y. Bozo - Different pizmon same tune G. Shrem Arabic: Howa Habibi Yewafaqni Isaac Cabasso I Cabasso- Nishmat Maury Blanco	נשמת
603	499	שיר אל אגידה	Moses Ashear Ashear Manuscript	F Samra
604	500	אספר שמך	Moses Ashear Ashear Manuscript	G. Shrem
605	501	אל השב	Moses Ashear Same melody as page 491. Ashear Manuscript	E. Menaged- Full Shaharit Isaac Cabasso
605.5	502a	מול אלי וגודלו	NLevy	Saul Nobeh Betesh G. Shrem Recording I Cabasso- Semehim
606	502a	מרום דר מעונה	Moses Ashear	G. Shrem
607	503	מלכי עזור יה	Moses Ashear	Arabic Maury Blanco
608	503	יאתה לאל הגדלה	Moses Ashear Wedding of Joseph Moshe Ashear. Nisan 1931. Leaflet
609	504	אנא רפא לחבלי	Moses Ashear Wedding of Joseph Moshe Ashear. Nisan 1931. Leaflet
610	506	נדה אני	Moses Ashear Bar Misvah of Shaul Abraham Houssni. January 1938. Leaflet	Arabic G. Shrem S Antebi I Cabasso - Qaddish	קדיש
611	507	עדתך אסף יה אבא	Ezra Mishaniye Bar Misvah of Shaul Sammy Haddad. May 25, 1950. Leaflet	F Samra
611.01	509	אנא אלי נאמן		J. Mosseri Y. Bozo Recording Recording Naftali Tawil- Qedusha I Cabasso- Qaddish Shabetai Laniado- Naqdishakh
611.1	514i	יום וליל	Maqam Shehnaz About the spliting of the Red Sea. Appropriate for Seventh Day of Pesah.	G. Shrem G. Shrem Recording Isaac Cabasso
611.2	509s	היום עלה לגני		S. Salem S. Salem 2 Y. Bozo Amos Dodi Recording
611.3	509c	כנר על הגג	melody from Fiddler on the Roof.	J. Mosseri M. Nadaf
611.4	509l	יה אוחיל לך		Recording
612	510	אליכם קהל עדה	Aharon Eliahou The theme of this poem (HIJAZ, page 510) is the deaths of Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aharon, who died on Inauguration Day of the Mishkan. The author is H Aharon Eliahou seen by the acrostic is “Aharon Hazaq” (אהרן חזק). There are seven stanzas in the original poem, all ending with the words “Benei Aharon,” with an extra stanza added by H Ezra Hamway (1859-1945), Chief Judge (Ab Beit Din) of Aleppo. The loss of Nadab and Abihu is viewed as a tragedy and this emotional poem is meant to cause us to cry and repent. The Zohar says (Vayiqra; OH, 621), that whoever grieves over these deaths, his sins will be forgiven, and he will not lose a child in his lifetime. In Aleppo custom, this poem appears in "Siddur Beit Kaporet” with instructions of singing this on Yom Kippur morning before the Torah reading. In addition, this melody is applied to "Semehim" on Kippur morning. Although “Ahare Mot” is referred to in this poem, one must refrain from using this melody on Shabbat Ahare Mot. Handwritten Manuscript	G. Shrem Recording Recording- Semehim G Shrem- including Semehim	שמחים
612.01	509f	יחיד ורם איובי לכד אולמי	Haim S Aboud	Y. Bozo Recording
612.1		Bilbul Nagah Al LaShata Nil	Popular Arabic melody.	play pause G. Shrem play pause G. Shrem	אל ההודאות
612.2		Konte Fein	Recording of the Great Saleh Abd ElHai singing Konte Fein Wel Hobb Fein, from 1923. The Maqam is Hijazkar. Ashear used for Mosaei Shabbat Hazon.	play pause Arabic play pause Arabic: Konte Fein	קדיש
613	512	רשות לברוך שאמר		G. Shrem M. Tawil Recording- Barukh Sheamar