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Ballads, Wedding Songs and Piyyutim of the Sephardic Jews of Tetuan and Tangier, Morocco

Various Artists
Ballads, Wedding Songs and Piyyutim of the Sephardic Jews of Tetuan and Tangier, Morocco

The songs on this 1983 Folkways release are both soulful and haunting, reminders of a "golden age" prior to 1492, when Jews were expelled from Spain. The Jews of Tetuan, which became one of the most important Jewish communities in North Africa, preserved the old ballads in Medieval Spanish, and for daily use spoke an updated idiom. Here women sing romance and ritual songs a cappella, while a cantor from Tangier performs the piyyutim, the religious poetry written in Hebrew by the great Medieval Jewish writers and sung in the synagogue during services.

Liner notes include song lyrics in Spanish and their English translation as well as a history of the Jewish presence in Morocco and northern Africa.

Track Listing

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101
Dice la nuestra novia - Says the Bride-to-Be Alicia Benassayag de Bendayam 03:14
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102
En ca de mi padre - In the House of My Father Flora Benamol 03:25
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103
Aunque le di la mano - Although I Gave Him My Hand Flora Benamol 01:14
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104
Fuerame a banar a orillas del rio - I Went to Bathe at the River's Edge Flora Benamol 02:14
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105
El Cabrito - One Kid Alicia Benassayag de Bendayam 03:00
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106
Yo me levantara un lunes - I Arose on a Monday Flora Benamol 02:55
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107
Mose salio de Misrain - Moses Left Egypt Alicia Benassayag de Bendayam 02:29
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108
Una Hija tiene el rey - The King Has a Daughter Alicia Benassayag de Bendayam 02:24
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109
Nuestro Senor Elohenu Alicia Benassayag de Bendayam 03:15
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201
La Gallarda Flora Benamol 03:50
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202
Persona soy yo, el bien sidi - I Am a Human Being, Good Sir Female singer 02:09
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203
Brillana - Briana Ester Kadosh Israel 04:11
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204
Piyyut: City of Joy Solomon Siboni 02:50
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205
Piyyut: The Overseer Solomon Siboni 02:31
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206
Piyyut: God Is Alive Solomon Siboni 02:33
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207
Piyyut: From the Mouth of God Solomon Siboni 01:31
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208
Piyyut: My Wintry Days Solomon Siboni 02:49
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209
Piyyut: Your Love Is Sweet Solomon Siboni 01:13