Re: bris music (seriously)

[Joshua Horowitz <horowitz...>]

-- Budowitz Home Page: http://www.merlinms.dircon.co.uk/budowitz/

Quick plug:

> "Oh! That in Nine Months" [O! Que Mueve Mezes]--exquisite piece on  Lauren
> Pomerantz album, whose title I forgot to write down

 A very lovely little-known Istanbul version of O! Que Mueve Mezes will be
appearing in our Judeo-Spanish Songbook (I'll post when it's ready) with
Peters Edition (Frankfurt). We are just checking the layout now. The melody
has some delicious melismas and subtle modal turns that will make you
salivate like you've just smelled fresh baklava. The lyrics are joyful as
can be. It would be first on my list of bris songs. Wish I could attach the
tune but I'm not allowed. Here are the lyrics with translation, though. Take
care, Josh Horowitz...

¡O, qué mueve mezes!

¡O, qué mueve mezes travatex de estrechura!
Mos nasió un niño de cara de luna.
Viva la parida con su criatura.
Ya es, ya es buen simán esta alegría.

Cuando la cumadre dize "dale, dale",
Dize la paraida, "O Dió, escapame."
Dizen la su djente "Amen, amen, amen."
Ya es, ya es buen simán esta alegría.

¡Qué bien empleadas fueron las dolores!
Mos nasió un niño de cara de flores.
Mos viva el parido y la companía,
A criar y gozar el niño en la vida.

¡O, qué fiesta, fiesta alegría!
Mos viva la parida con toda la companía.
Que se alevante sana y viva.
A criar y gozar el niño en la vida.

¡O, que mueve mezes!

English Translation:

You have suffered for nine months
And now a boy is born, with a face like the full moon
Long live the mother and the child
This joy is a good sign.

The midwife says "push, push!"
The woman says "Oh God, save me!"
Her relatives say "Amen, amen, amen."
This joy is a good sign.

How useful were the pains
A boy with a face of flowers is born to us
Long live the father and all the company
So he can bring up the child and enjoy his existence.

Oh, what a happy feast!
Long live the mother and all the company
May she recover and be healthy
To raise the child and enjoy his existence.

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