Rivers of Babylon
Treasures
© 2002 S. Manasseh
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Religious and secular music of the Iraqi-Jewish tradition: folk songs and hymns (Judeo-Arabic: shbahoth; sing: shbah) for Sabbaths, festivals and life cycle events, sung in Hebrew, in the Babylonian pronunciation: Aramaic, Judeo-Arabic and Arabic
tracks
- 1 Ki eshmerah shabbath (Because I keep the Sabbath)
- 2 Deror yiqra (Proclaim freedom)
- 3 Elohey 'oz tehillathi (God of my strength)
- 4 Yahh ribbon 'alam (Lord, master of the universe)
- 5 Yom hashabbath (The Sabbath day)
- 6 Eliyyahu Eliyyahu (Elijah, Elijah)
- 7 El Eliyyahu (God of Elijah)
- 8 Balini0b balwa (He plagues me with a plague!)
- 9 Emeth atah hathaneneu (Truly you are our bridegroom)
- 10 Simeni (Place me above my foes)
- 11 Yom simhah (Day of rejoicing)
- 12 Sinai Sinai (Mount SInai)
- 13 Ya nabi (Oh prohet!)
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Rivers of Babylon, led by Sara Manasseh, sings religious and secular music of the Iraqi-Jewish tradition: folk songs and hymns (Judeo-Arabic: shbahoth; sing: shbah) for Sabbaths, festivals and life cycle events, sung in Hebrew -- in the Babylonian (Iraqi) pronunciation -- Aramaic, Judeo-Arabic and Arabic. The melodies composed in the melodic modes (anghaam or maqamaat) of Arab music, reflect characteristics of Iraqi folk song.
Most of the songs performed are shbahoth (literally "praises"), the most popular type of hymn in the Jewish Babylonian (Iraqi) tradition. Also known as piyyutim and as pizmonim or zemiroth in other Jewish traditions, shbahoth are paraliturgical songs, often sung around the dinner table, during or following a festive meal, or at synagogue, on pilgrimage to holy tombs (for example, the tombs of Ezekiel the Prophet and Ezra the Scribe, in Iraq), or other occasions.
The texts are especially composed poems, of a religious nature, often expressing national troubles and hopes, and are of great beauty and literary merit. The melodies are transmitted orally. On Sabbaths and Festivals shbahoth are sung unaccompanied. On our CD, they are accompanied by 'oud (middle-eastern lute), mandolin, violin and percussion. Rivers of Babylon repertoire also includes vintage, secular Arabic songs from Iraq. The CD features one such song (Track 8).
Most of the group members have known each other since childhood, and were born into the Baghdad Jewish community in India (Bombay and Calcutta) -- representing a cultural tradition which was transported from Iraq to India and now to the UK. The group includes ethnomusicologists, architects, a doctor, writer, accountant, secretary and fire prevention officer.
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Here is some feedback from some of our concerts:
Excerpt from a review in a London Arabic daily:
"I was fortunate to attend a musical evening at a North London centre where I listened with admiration to the harmonious outpouring tunes of their songs. ... I could not help coming to the conclusion that, rather than politics it is art and especially music that manages to bring communities and nations together."
From a review by Khaled Kishtainy in the London Arabic daily Asharq Al-Awsat, following a sell-out concert of the Rivers of Babylon, at the Bull Theatre, Barnet.
Translated from the Arabic, in The Scribe : Journal of Babylonian Jewry.
Audience reaction at a concert:
*Congratulations on a very successful performance. The audience simply loved it.
*The concert was lovely; I really enjoyed it. And it was an exquisite pleasure to listen to the 'oud playing.
*We and our friends really enjoyed the show. The Arabic songs were wonderful too.
*We tried to see you at the concert, but sadly for us, and a number of others, the performance was fully booked. Will you be performing again soon?
*Brilliant concert If the audience had its way, Rivers of Babylon have been singing there all night! I'd like to buy a copy of the "Treasures" CD.
*The audience was very impressed with the music.