March 18, 2024 ~ VAYIQRA + ZAKHOR. SIGAH.

Nahwand - نهاوند

Introduction

Nahwand - נהוונד -  is named after a city in Iranian Kurdistan. This maqam was popular in Iran and Turkey before it made its way down to Syria and Egypt. This maqam was common among the Turks and Aleppo's close proximity to Turkey would account for a number of older pizmonim bearing Turkish musical origins.

Nahwand is the closest equivalent of the Western Minor Scale. The maqam is easy on the western ear and encompasses modern day Israeli tunes. There are many "Westernized" songs in this maqam.

In terms of perasha associations, this maqam is applied in cases of disharmony and conflict (i.e Vayesheb, Qorah, Matot, etc.).

Even though it is listed in the pizmonim book as a possible Shabbat maqam up to seven times a year, this is a new innovation. All older listings, both manuscripts and printed, fail to list Maqam Nahwand as an option. According to Arabic music scholars, this maqam was considered off limits for holy use until about 100 years ago when a well-respected Sheikh used it for the first time for religious chanting. Since that time it has begun to make roadways in Aleppo's Islamic and Jewish communities.

 

Nahwand tetrachord: starting on C

Index of Pizmonim

Pizmon Page Song CommentaryRecordings Application
255 205 שרים רוזנים Wedding song. British Library Or. 10375 Fule Yanani
Y. Bozo
Recording
I Cabasso
Yosef Bozo - Qaddish
נשמת
256 206 אודה לאל Raphael Tabbush Tabbush Manuscript Arabic
I Cabasso - Qaddish
קדיש
257 207 רצה לשירי Introduction to the following song. I. Cabasso
Recording
G Shrem
שמחים
258 207 בבית נאוה Moshe Mustachi
Recording
Maury Blanco and the Aram Soba Orchestra
259 207 לנרי ואורי Raphael Tabbush Hanukkah. E. Menaged
Recording
Recording
J Mosseri - EH
שועת עניים
260 207 אל אבי מחסדך Raphael Tabbush I. Cabasso
E. Menaged
E. Sayegh
Recording
Maury Blanco and the Aram Soba Orchestra
נשמת
261 208 ישמחו נא עם ישרים Tabbush Manuscript
262 208 ארמוני יה נזנח Raphael Tabbush Hamaoui Manuscript
262.1 208a ירושלים של זהב Naomi Shemer The pizmon "Yerushalayim Shel Zahab" (NAHWAND, page 208A), translated as "Jerusalem of Gold," is an Israeli song written by Naomi Shemer (1930-2004). This song, written in May 1967, became an unofficial second national anthem after Israel won the Six Day War (June 1967) and liberated Jerusalem. It's melody is based on the Basque lullaby "Pello Joxepe." The song originally had 3 stanzas but a fourth one was added after the Six Day War. The theme of the song is about the Jewish people's longing for Jerusalem. There is a stark contrast between the second stanza, which mourns over the sad, dry, and empty streets, and the amended fourth stanza, which celebrates the return to Jerusalem with happy streets full of life. Some say that the timing of the composition of this song is nothing short of prophetic. The melody of this song made its way to synagogue services and is usually heard transposed to various pieces of prayer around Yom Yerushalayim (28 Iyar). Fule Yanani
G Shrem
Moshe Dwek
שמחים
262.2 208b מרום אל רם ASaban Bar Misvah of Moise Jacob Beida, June 1984. Composed by Abraham Saban Cohen.
263 209 עליון רם על כל הרמים Shabbat Hazon. Arabic
J. Mosseri
קדיש
264 209 רצה רחשי Tabbush Manuscript
265 210 אתה אל כביר Raphael Tabbush The initials at the beginning of each stanza form the acrostic 'Ani Refael'. The song talks about Israel's redemption. The beginning of the pizmon has the composer turning to God to ask for mercy. The composer says that he will not stop praying until his prayers are accepted. He prays for the redemption of the Jewish people, the gathering of the exile, and returning to the Land of Israel. Tabbush Manuscript E. Sayegh
I. Cabasso- Nishmat
G. Shrem
G. Shrem 2
G. Shrem
Recording
R. Elnadav
R Barzani- Qaddish
Isaac Cabasso- Nishmat
Isaac Cabasso- Qaddish
R Elnadav
Turkish
Moshe Dwek
Moshe Dwek - Nishmat
Moshe Dwek - Rau Banim
נשמת
266 210 לעיר חנה דורשה דודי Raphael Tabbush E. Menaged
G. Shrem
G. Shrem
Recording
M Habusha
Moshe Dwek - Qaddish
Shlomo Antebi- Qaddish
נשמת
267 211 רם ונעלם אדון עולם Raphael Tabbush Tabbush Manuscript G. Shrem
G. Shrem
Recording
Shabetai Laniado
Moshe Dwek
שועת עניים
268 211 תכון לעד Yosef Hamaoui
G. Shrem
Recording
Recording
I Cabasso
I Cabasso
Shabetai Laniado- HM
Moshe Dwek
נשמת
269 212 רואה ובוחן לבב הכל Raphael Tabbush I. Cabasso
Recording
נקדישך
270 212 רננות שירו אחי Raphael Tabbush Tabbush Manuscript I. Cabasso
G. Shrem
I Cabasso
I Cabasso
שמחים
271 213 אחזה בנועם Raphael Tabbush "Ehze BeNoam" (NAHWAND, page 213), translated as "I will gaze at the pleasantness of Your face," is a song written by master composer, H Raphael Antebi Tabbush (d. 1918). The 6 stanzas of the song form the acrostic: "Ani Refael" (אני רפאל). Though a favorite at the Shabbat afternoon Sebbits, this melody is almost never applied to any of the pieces of prayers. This composition describes what the author envisions he will do once he leaves the exile; dwelling in the House of the Lord, bowing in the holy sanctuary, and offering the burnt sacrifice in the Temple. He then asks for the Blessing of Abraham and not to be humiliated while in exile. He continues by asking for God to hasten the redemption for the Jewish nation. The battered Jewish nation, at times, feels "chained" (עגונים) in their exile, but finds comfort in their study of the Torah. The author asks God to accept the praises and songs of His beloved nation, because He is a merciful God that forgives transgressions and is eternally kind. Tabbush Manuscript M Kairey
Fule Yanani
G. Shrem
G. Shrem
Recording
R Elnadav
Moshe Dwek
פזמון
272 214 אל חובי יסלח לי Raphael Tabbush Arabic
Pizmon
Naqdishakh
273 214 למה הקץ נסתם נא Raphael Tabbush This pizmon (NAHWAND, page 214), whose title can be translated as "Why is the End Concealed," is composed by H Raphael Antebi Tabbush (d. 1918). The structure of this song is that it has five lines, and each one ends with a repeated chant of “Ne’eman, Ne’eman, Ne’eman,” or "Eli, Eli, Eli." In this song, the author starts by asking why the end of the exile cannot be revealed? But despite not knowing the answer to this difficult question, the Jewish people are nevertheless committed to remaining faithful, or “Ne’eman,” to the Almighty. The author continues by asking why his nation, Israel, finds themselves “locked up” in scenarios of sorrow and trouble? The author petitions that if it is because Israel is stained with sins, then those sins should be quickly forgiven, and God should revert Israel's status to “white as snow” (based on a reference from Isaiah 1:18). In the closing verse, the author requests for God to rebuild the Temple so that he, the author, can come and offer the 'Olah sacrifice to God, in order to thank Him for His overwhelming kindness. Regarding the melody of this pizmon, it is a very famous muwashshah called "Lama Bada Yatathana." Although the exact date of this melody is uncertain, in modern times, this melody has been recorded by many Arabic artists; including: Fairuz, Souad Massi, and Lena Chamamyan. The melody of this pizmon is also heard in Syrian synagogues when it is transposed to Naqdishakh on days when Maqam NAHWAND is applied to the prayers. G. Shrem
I. Cabasso- Qedusha
G. Shrem
Recording
R Barzani- Naqdishakh
Recording
Moshe Dwek
Moshe Dwek - Naqdishakh
נקדישך
274 214 יה נחלה המצחה Raphael Tabbush E. Menaged
G. Shrem
I. Cabasso- Qaddish
G. Shrem
Recording
Moshe Dwek
Moshe Dwek - Qaddish
קדיש
275 215 אודך אודך Raphael Tabbush Tabbush Manuscript I. Cabasso- Semehim
G. Shrem
Yosef Hamaoui
G. Shrem
Recording
Moshe Dwek
Moshe Dwek - Semehim / Mimisrayim
Moshe Dwek - Naqdishakh
שמחים
276 215 רעיוני יחיד Raphael Tabbush Hamaoui Manuscript Tabbush Manuscript G. Shrem
G. Shrem
G. Shrem
Recording
Eliahou Ozen- Nishmat
Isaac Cabasso- Rau Banim
Moshe Dwek
Moshe Dwek - Qaddish
Moshe Dwek - Rau Banim
Moshe Dwek - Qaddish
ממצרים
277 216 יבנה ביתו Raphael Tabbush I. Cabasso
Recording
Moshe Habusha
שועת עניים
278 216 רחום אתה Raphael Tabbush "Rahum Ata" (NAHWAND, page 216) is composed by H Rephael Tabbush (Aleppo, ~1830 - Cairo, 1918), author of the "Shir Ushbaha" pizmonim book (1888). According to the notes of H Moshe Ashear, this song is reserved for Shabbat Beshalah (Shabbat Shira), and the Seventh Day of Pesah. There are 4 stanzas in this pizmon; corresponding to ר-פ-א-ל. The melody of this pizmon is called "Bafta Hindi," and can be applied to Mimisrayim on weeks of Maqam NAHWAND. "Merciful are You for redeeming us from captivity," the pizmon opens; referring to the captivity of slavery under Pharaoh. The second verse is a prayer to redeem us now and to send Eliahu the Prophet to herald the redemption. After we hear of the redemption, the third verse says that we will sing praises to God. The fourth verse mentions how on the seventh day after the Exodus, God rescued our nation by overpowering nature and splitting the Red Sea. Hamaoui Manuscript Tabbush Manuscript I. Cabasso
M Kairey
Fule Yanani
G. Shrem
G. Shrem
Recording
Musa Camjagi- Semehim
I Cabasso
Moshe Dwek
Moshe Dwek - Mimisrayim
ממצרים
279 216 יחיד רם חי לעולם Isaac Abadi Dahab Turkish melody. Yosef Hamaoui
G. Shrem
Fule Yanani
G. Shrem
Recording
Moshe Dwek
Moshe Dwek - EH
Moshe Dwek - Rau Banim
אל ההודאות
280 217 בשם יי אקרא Moses Ashear Rishty. Ashear Manuscript I. Cabasso
281 218 מריא ראשי וכבודי Moses Ashear Isaac Shalom. Ashear Manuscript I. Cabasso
282 219 מה נמלצו לחכי Moses Ashear For Hebrat Sha'are Sedeq which was the Synagogue on the Lower East Side. Written pre 1928. The tune is Turkish. Ashear Manuscript
283 219 מה נעמו Moses Ashear Moshe Ezra Shrem. Ashear Manuscript E. Menaged
I Cabasso
I Cabasso
284 220 מלך רם Moses Ashear The pizmon “Melekh Ram” (NAHWAND, page 220), which translates as “Exalted King,” is a very popular song composed by H Moshe Ashear (acrostic: משה). It was composed in honor of the wedding of Mr. Joseph Ezra Tawil (alluded to in the third paragraph). Prominently mentioned in this song are Joseph’s three brothers: Abraham, Shaul, and Mordekhai Tawil; distinguished leaders of Congregation Magen David of Bensonhurst in the 1920’s. This individual, Joseph, ended up moving permanently to Mexico for business opportunities. In this song, we praise God for being the “Exalted King,” and we ask Him to send a savior and redeemer to his chosen nation. We also ask for God to raise our fortunes (with many happy occasions such as weddings) and return His children to their borders so that they can sing and praise Him for all eternity. The melody of this is from a “Chopin March." This melody is popularly applied to Shav’at Aniyim when praying in Maqam NAHWAND. Ashear Manuscript Photograph of Shaul, Joseph and Abraham Tawil I. Cabasso
E. Menaged
G. Shrem
G. Shrem 2
G. Shrem
Moshe Dwek
Moshe Dwek - SA
שועת עניים
285 220 אהלל ואביע Moses Ashear "Ahallel Veabia" (NAHWAND, page 220), a pizmon associated with the festival of Shabuot, is composed by H Moshe Ashear (1877-1940). There are fifteen stanzas in this pizmon; all rhyming with one another. The acrostic of the pizmon is "Anokhi Hashem Elohekha, Lo Tahmod Asher Lere'ekha" (אנכי ה׳ אלהיך לא תחמד אשר לרעך); referring to the first and tenth commandments, respectively. The melody of this pizmon is called “Izmir Sefasi”; named after Izmir, Turkey. This pizmon is a poetic rendition of the narrative in Exodus 19 and 20; the narrative that discusses Israel's preparation, receiving, and acceptance of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. The song concludes with a plea for God to listen to our prayers of returning the Jews to Zion so that they can live there in peace. The melody of this pizmon is traditionally applied to Halleluya (Psalm 150) on Shabuot, as well as on Shabbat Yitro and Shabbat Vaethanan. Ashear Manuscript I. Cabasso- Halleluyah
G. Shrem
G. Shrem
Moshe Dwek
Moshe Dwek - Ahallel VeAbia
הללויה
286 222 מלך אב רם Moses Ashear In honor of the birth of Joseph Bijou. Written by M. Ashear. Arabic is "Ya Dounia Ya Gharami", by Abdel Wahab. Ashear Manuscript J. Bijou
G. Shrem: Haleluyah
G. Shrem
Moshe Dwek - Haleluya
Moshe Dwek - Nishmat
הללויה
287 223 יעלוזו ביה Moses Ashear Shabot. Ashear Manuscript G. Shrem
G. Shrem
Recording
R Barzani- Shaveat
Moshe Dwek
Moshe Dwek - HM
Moshe Dwek - SA , BY
Moshe Dwek - Qaddish
Moshe Dwek - Qaddish
ה' מלך
288 224 יה אל נורא Moses Ashear Moshe Ezra Shrem. Ashear Manuscript Arabic
Maury Blanco
פזמון
289 225 מה עצמו Moses Ashear Wedding of Selim and Nizha Gindi. Photograph is courtesy of David Catton, grandson. Ashear Manuscript Photograph of Selim and Nizha Gindi E. Menaged
G. Shrem
I. Cabasso- El Hahodaot
M Tawil (and next song)
G. Shrem
Recording
Moshe Dwek
Moshe Dwek - Qaddish
Moshe Dwek - Qaddish
I Cabasso - Naqdishakh
קדיש
290 225 מאמר ותחנון Moses Ashear Wedding of Selim and Nizha Gindi. Photograph is courtesy of David Catton, grandson. Classic song in Maqam Nawa-athar. It is a DOR by the name Ya Qamar Dar El 'Oyoun and this version is sung by Laure Dackashe. (Lor Dakash) Ashear Manuscript Photograph of Selim and Nizha Gindi Arabic- Lor Dakash
E. Menaged
Recording
Maury Blanco
291 226 יעטר יה Moses Ashear Wedding of Sam and Renee Esses. Shabbat Vayesse. Photograph is courtesy of grandson Ike Esses in Phoenix. Names of family members scattered throughout this pizmon. Photograph of Sam and Renee Esses I. Cabasso
Recording
I Cabasso
Moshe Dwek
292 226 יהלל אל רם ונעלה Moses Ashear Wedding of Seyah M Ashear. April 2, 1939. Leaflet
293 228 יה לו אעתיר Moses Ashear Wedding of Shelomo Harra; April 14, 1935. Leaflet G. Shrem
G. Shrem
G. Shrem
Arabic Recording
קדיש
293.1 228a הרחב אולמי Haim S Aboud Arabic
Recording
Moshe Mustachi
293.2 228b אני אשיר לך E. Nahum
M Tawil
M Tawil 2
Recording
נקדישך
293.3 228b יפרח יה אבי E. Nahum
Fule Yanani
Arabic
I. Cabasso- Qaddish
Recording
Recording
E Sayegh
קדיש
294 229 מרום יחיד בלי שני Moses Ashear Wedding of Joseph Moshe Ashear. Nisan 1931. Leaflet
295 230 צהלה וגילה Moses Ashear Wedding of Saad Shames; April 6, 1933. Leaflet
296 231 ירומם צורי Moses Ashear Ashear composed this pizmon in honor of the birth of his grandson Moshe to his son Yosef. The initials at the beginning of each main stanza form the acrostic 'Yosef HaCohen Hazak'. June 8, 1935. Leaflet I. Cabasso
I Cabasso- Semehim
I Cabasso- Semehim 2
Recording
Moshe Dwek
קדיש
297 233 אלי אנוהו ארוממנהו Moses Ashear Ezra Abraham Husney (Levy) Bar Misvah. April 9, 1940. Leaflet E. Marcus - Abdel Wahab
ה' מלך
298 235 מן שמיא חיש פורקנך Ezra Dweck Arabic is Ensa El Donia. Arabic: Ensa El Donia
299 236 כל עוד בלבב פנימה Naftali Herz Imber This song (NAHWAND, page 236), also referred to as "HaTiqva" (The Hope), became the Zionist national anthem in 1897, and eventually, the Israeli national anthem in 1948. It's text was written in 1878 by Galician poet Naphtali Herz Imber (1856-1911), and it was published in a collection of his poems called Barkai (The Morning Star) in Jerusalem in 1886. There are seven stanzas to this poem, and they are all followed by the chorus ('Od Lo Abda Tiqvatenu- we still did not lose our hope). The melody of this song is derived from a number of European songs starting with "La Mantovana," a 16th century Italian song composed by Giuseppe Cenci, and it's melody was reused in a number of other folk songs throughout Central Europe. It was also used in "Moldau" by the Czech composer Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884) in his set of six symphonic poems celebrating Bohemia. Like many other pizmonim in our tradition, the theme of this song is the gathering of the exiles and the return to the Land of Israel. A translation of the first stanza is as follows: "As long as within our hearts, the Jewish soul sings. As long as forward to the East, to Zion, looks the eye." The chorus then continues "Our hope is not yet lost, the hope is very old. To return to the land of our forefathers, the land of Zion and Jerusalem." Using this melody for various pieces of prayers is well documented by H Moshe Ashear in the late 1930's. Currently, it has been adapted to Syrian Hazzanut for the melody of Barukh She'amar each Shabbat, and it can also be applied to other pieces of prayers, such as Semehim or Naqdishakh for the Shabbat prior to Yom Ha'Assmaut (Israel Independence Day). G. Shrem
G Shrem- HaTiqvah
G. Shrem
G. Shrem
Moshe Dwek - Naqdishakh
Moshe Dwek - Rau Banim
נקדישך
299.001 237 אנא בחסדך I. Cabasso
Recording
Eliahou Ozen- Semehim
299.01 237a מלכי צורי אל כביר Haim S Aboud I. Cabasso- Naqdishakh
G. Shrem
G. Shrem
Recording
Recording
R Barzani- Nishmat
R Barzani- Keter
Moshe Dwek
Moshe Dwek - EH
Moshe Dwek - Qaddish
Moshe Dwek - Semehim
Moshe Dwek - Qaddish
Moshe Dwek - Rau Banim
299.02 237b החיש לצירך Haim S Aboud Yosef Hamaoui
Recording
R. Elnadav
Isaac Cabasso- Qaddish
R Elnadav
Moshe Dwek
Moshe Dwek - Qaddish
Moshe Dwek - Yimlokh
Moshe Dwek - Qaddish
299.03 237c שאו ציונה נס ודגל Early Israeli melody. Recording
299.04 237d רוממו לו בקול Raphael Yair Elnadav Composed for the Bar Misvah of Ezra Tawil to the melody of "Inta al-Hubb", a popular Arab song performed by Umm Kulthum. Arabic
Recording
Agudat Dodim (Buenos Aires)- Mimisrayim
Moshe Dwek - Rau Banim
299.06 237f הדור שומע Raphael Yair Elnadav Jack D. Hidary Bar Misvah. Photograph of Jack David Hidary J. Mosseri
R. Elnadav
299.08 237h חביבי אלי תמכת בי Haim S Aboud Recording
Hebrew Recording
Yaaqob Zeruq - Qaddish
299.09 237i חביבי אל שוב למעונך YMizrachi
299.1 237j אל על שיר גיל נרון Raphael Yair Elnadav Bar Misvah of Saul Ezra Ashkenazi. Composed by R Elnadav. 1984. M Habusha
Recording
קדיש
299.102 237t על הרי על הרי Raphael Yair Elnadav Bar Misvah of Harry E Tawil. 1996. Composed by R Elnadav. Maqam Nahwand-Kurd M Habusha
Recording
קדיש
299.12 237l אשיר אני שיר בחיבה Abraham Cohen Saban Albert Cohen Saban
299.13 237m ירנן פי בשיר ותפילה YNahari
299.16 237n אשירה בקול שמחה Rahamim Abraham Haber Bar Misvah. August 4, 1980. Recording
Qaddish- Rabbi Medina
299.17 237p מלוא עולם נורא שמו Haber Bar Misvah. March 13, 1982. Recording
299.18 237r אפתח פי בשירה ובזמרה Maqam Kourd David Abraham Haber Bar Misvah. October 7, 1993.
390.5 316a הנה מה טוב Abraham Cohen Saban Melody is "Sunrise Sunset".
4872 בחג פורים SUHV page 237-T. In honor of the Purim festival. Arabic is to the melody of "Port Said," by Mohammed El Bakkar. F Samra
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