OVADYA: Music

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The first time I heard D’ror Yikra, it was on an Erev Shabbat in Rehavia (West Jerusalem), sung with centuries of feeling if not in perfect tune. It’s a powerful 10th century Iraqi-Jewish melody written by the Jewish grammarian Dunash Ben Lavrat with a Hebrew acrostic of his name. The content is timely and profoundly moving. Its music, too, is a good example of powerful Sephardic stylings. There is no “C” or “bridge” section to the original tune, so we added a additional part. It has also brings with it the hope of the future redemption of Israel and Messianic Age, similar in feel to the traditional prayer from the Siddur, Techezena.

D’ror Yikra | Cry Out Freedom
Dunash Ben Lavrat (10th C Iraqi)

D’ror yeekra... L’ven eem vat V’yeentsarchem... Kmo vavat
Na’eem sheemchem... v’lo yooshbat Sh’voo v’noochoo... b’yom Shabbat!

D’rosh navee... v’oolamee V’ot yesha... ’aseh eemee
Neta sorek b’tock karmee She’ah shevat b’nai amee

(Cry out freedom... to sons and daughters
And he will keep you as the apple of his eye
Pleasant is your name and will not be destroyed
Sit (dwell) and relax/rest on the day of Shabbat.

Seek my sanctuary and my home
Give me a sign of deliverance
[and a sign of salvation make to me]
Plant a vine in my vineyard
Look to my people, hear their laments)