Hanukkah music

Jewish and Israeli Music
Religious music:
Historical • Contemporary Piyyut • Zemirot • Nigun Pizmonim • Baqashot
Secular music:
Israeli • Klezmer • Sephardic • Mizrahi
Not Jewish in Form: Classical • Mainstream and Jazz
Dance:
Israeli Folk Dancing • Ballet Horah • Hava Nagila • Yemenite dance
Israel
Hatikvah • Jerusalem of Gold
Piyyutim
Adon Olam • Geshem • Lekhah Dodi Ma'oz Tzur • Yedid Nefesh • Yigdal
Music for Holidays
Hanukkah • Passover • Shabbat
Music of the Haggadah
Ma Nishtana • Dayenu • Adir Hu Chad Gadya • Echad Mi Yodea
Music of Hanukkah
Blessings • Oh Chanukah • Dreidel Song
Al Hanisim • Mi Y'malel • Ner Li

Hanukkah music (or Chanukah music) (Hebrew: שירי חנוכה‎) contains several songs associated with the festival of Chanukah.

Chanukah blessings

There are three Chanukah blessings (Hebrew: בֵּרַכוֹת לֵחֲנוּכָּה Birchat L'Chanukah, Lit: Chanukah blessings) that are sung for lighting the candels of the menorah. The third blessing (shehecheyanu) is only sung on the first night. After the two or three blessings are sung, Hanerot Halalu is chanted.

Maoz Tzur

Main articles: Maoz Tzur and Rock of Ages

"Ma'oz Tzur" (Hebrew: מעוז צור‎), also a widely known English version as "Rock of Ages", is a Jewish liturgical poem or piyyut. It is written in Hebrew, and is usually sung on the holiday of Chanukah, after lighting the festival lights. Its six stanzas correspond to five events of Jewish history and a hope for the future. Of its six stanzas, often only the first stanza is sung (or the first and last), as this is what directly pertains to Hanukkah. "Ma'oz Tzur" was written sometime in the 13th century.

Oh Chanukah

Oh Chanukah (also Chanukah, Oh Chanukah) is an English version of the Yiddish Oy Chanukah (Yiddish: חנוכּה אױ חנוכּה Khanike Oy Khanike). The English words, while not a translation, are roughly based on the Yiddish. Oy Chanukah is a traditional Yiddish Chanukah song and Chanukah , The English version, along with I Have a Little Dreidel, is one of the most recognized English Chanukah songs. Both of these songs are playful songs with upbeat temp and are sung by children. The lyrics are about dancing the Horah, eating latkes, playing dreidel, lighting the candles and singing happy songs.

I Have a Little Dreidel

I Have a Little Dreidel^[1] (also known as the Dreidel song^[1]) is a very famous song in the English speaking world for Hanukkah, which also has a Yiddish version. The Yiddish version is Ikh Bin A Kleyner Dreydl, (Yiddish: איך בין אַ קלײנער דרײדל Ikh Bin A Kleyner Dreydl Lit: I am a little dreidel). The English version of the song is well associated with the festival of Chanukah, and is known by many Jews and non-Jews alike. The lyrics of the song are simple and about making a dreidel and playing with it. The lyrics are as follows: I have a little dreidel I made it out of clay, and when it's dry and ready o dreidel I shall play. O' dreidel dreidel dreidel I made it out of clay and when it's dry and ready o' dreidel I shall plaay.

Sevivon

A popular Hebrew Chanukah song, "Sevivon" (Hebrew: סביבון sevivon) is Hebrew for "dreidel", where dreidel (Yiddish: דרײדל dreydl) is the Yiddish word for a spinning top. This song, "Sevivon," is very popular in Israel and by others familiar with the Hebrew language. The English below is a literal translation, not an English version.

Al Hanisim

Al Hanisim (or Al Hanissim) is a popular Hebrew song for Chanukah taken from liturgy (see Hanukkah → Additions to the daily prayers), and is also a Israeli folk dance. The song is about thanking God for saving the Jewish people.

This section requires expansion.

Mi Y'malel

Mi Y'malel (or Mi Yimalel) (Hebrew: מי ימלל "Who can retell?") is a very well known Hebrew Chanukah song. There also exists an English version, called "Who Can Retell," with words based on the Hebrew. The English below is that English version.

Ner Li

Literally translated as I have a candel, Ner Li is a simple Hebrew Chanukah song that is popular in Israel.

This section requires expansion.

Light One Candle

"Light One Candle" is a 1983 Hanukkah song written by Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul, and Mary. It is a very popular song and it has been sung by the trio at their concerts. It is a song that encourages the Jewish people to remember the history of the holiday and continue their heritage.

The Chanukah Song

A series of popular Chanukah songs by Adam Sandler each a slightly different version that all center around the theme of Jewish children feeling isolated during the Christmas season and Sandler's listing of Jewish celebrities. The song often gets a lot of airplay during the winter holiday season.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} University of Pennsylvania Library: Freedman Collection of Recorded Jewish Music

External links

• Chanukah Song Sheet (pdf)
• Chanukah Song Sheets
• Chanukah Song Sheets PDF creator
• Hanukkah Songs in Hebrew and English with transliterations.
• Hanukkah songsheets
• Hanukkah songs

See also

• Hanukkah

v • d • e Hanukkah • חנוכה Traditions Hanukkah Symbols: Menorah (Hanukiah)  • Dreidel (Sevivon) • Gelt Hanukkah Foods: Latkas (Levivot) • Sufganiyot • Buñuelos Hanukkah Music: Ma'oz Tzur • Rock of Ages  • Dreidel Song  • Oh Chanukah Maccabean Revolt Events: Seleucid Empire  • Temple in Jerusalem  • Maccabees  • Hasmonean Kingdom Historical Accounts: 1 Maccabees • 2 Maccabees People: Mattathias • Simeon • Eleazar • Jonathan • Judah • Antiochus IV Epiphanes • List of Judean rulers Battles: Wadi Haramia - Beth Horon – Emmaus - Beth Zur - Beth Zechariah - Adasa - Dathema - Elasa