Re: israeli military songs

[H. Kaufman <hkaufman...>]

Shalom Inna,

Sorry about the delay in responding to this inquiry, but I am in Israel
and not always in touch with my email.

There is a long history of songs of struggle to establish a Jewish
homeland, which probably goes back to the beginnings of Jewish
self-defense at the turn of the century.  Recordings of such songs go back
at least to the beginning of the state. 

I believe Tzena tzena, made famous by the Weavers in the late 40's, was
sung by the Jewish Brigade in WWII as was their march, Shir Hachayil
(Alina Ali, Shalhevet Sheli). Some Israeli military marches go back to the
30's, such as Zemer Haplugot and Nivne Artzenu Eretz Moledet (a socialist
song from that period).  Other marches such as Laroveh, Yad Beyad
Nitzmedet (which may have another name) goes back to 1948.  I recall a 10
inch Lp from the 1950's that had some of these songs, including the
classic Shir Tel Hai (not a march), dedicated to Trumpeldor and the other
Shomrim who fell in 1920 defending the attacks against the Jewish
Kibbutzim in the northern finger of Israel instigated by the French to
drive the Jews out and take it over as part of the Syrian Mandate.  There
was a 12 inch LP by Hillel (Ilke) Ravah and the Sons of Gallilee (I
believe), with some of these early songs of heroism, including (I think)
Al Givot Sheikh Abbrek, about Alexander Zeid-- a leader of the Shomer who
was murdered in the late 1930's. Someone already mentioned Hillel's
Folkways recording. 

Each of the Jewish underground movements created a plethora of songs
expressing the hopes of the Jewish people in their struggle to be free. 
Probably the most well-known songs were those of the Palmach (the
socialist oriented shock troops made up of young people from the
kibbutzim), with their anthem -- Shir Hapalmach -- written in 1943 and
still sung today and played as a military march. I am sure there must be
collections of such songs,since they and others were sung by the most
famous singers of the period, such as Shoshana Damari (who still brings
the audience to its feet at the annual Karmiel Festival).  Songs that come
to mind from that period are Hey Hajeep, B'arvot Hanegev, Bab El Wad--some
of these are very sad and are not marches. The Chizbatron troupe of the
Palmach performed and recorded many of these early songs, as well.  A song
from this period which can be played as a march is Shualay Shimshon (words
by Uri Avneri!), honoring Samson's Foxes, who helped supply Jewish
Kibbutzim in the Negev that were surrounded and under siege by the
Egyptian invadors who conquered the south of Israel -- up to Ramat Rachel
at the outskirts of Jerusalem -- before they were pushed back to Egypt.

There are also songs of the other underground movements, the Etzel and
Lechi, who fought against the British occupation and then in the War for
Independence.  I recently visited the Etzel Museum in Neve Tzedeck (Tel
Aviv), and bought a great CD of Etzel and some Lechi songs, including
Hayalim Almonim.  The songs are very poetic, some written by Ze'ev
Jabotinsky who was considered a creative poet and novelist, besides being
a Zionist leader. I suspect that the other museums honoring the Haganah,
IDF, etc. in Tel Aviv have collections of appropriate music available.

The Nachal groups of the 50's and 60's produced some popular military
songs, as others have pointed out. Kitah Almonit is probably the closest
(in addition to Mul Har Sinai) that they came to with a song that can be
used as a military march -- although it was sung in a popular style of the
period (with accordian).  I understand there was a competition for the
official march of the Israeli army, and the song that won is called Tzahal
Tzoed (or March Tzahal). I hear there is an album of all the army marches
and will try to find out details, but it may only exist in an old LP
version.

Hope this is info is helpful.  Perhaps someone has or will compile a
history of Israeli music related to the Jewish struggle for freedom and
self-defense over the last century.  It would certainly make for a good
Ph.D. dissertation. 

B'hatzlacha,
Haim Kaufman 

On Mon, 19 Jul 1999, Inna Barmash wrote:

> Hello haverim,
> 
> I am looking for CDs of Israeli/Jewish military songs. Can you recommend
> some recordings?
> 
> I've been looking around the jewishmusic.com site and found CDs by the
> Army Troupe.  Might these be what I am looking for?
> 
> Thanks in advance,
> 
> Inna
> 
> 
> 



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