L'kha Dodi - "shiru la-melekh" tune (Rav Hillel Palai)

from Friday Night with the Cambridge Egalitarian Minyan by Gal Chadash (the Cambridge Egalitarian Minyan)

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Zach Eilon introduced this melody to us, with its slightly "swing" lilt. He got it from Shira Hadasha congregation in Jerusalem, and it is known by some in Noam.

It's structured in two sections: a wordless refrain (which works well sung about once every 3 verses) and a tune which we sing to both verses and choruses.

(There is actually a different tune for the verses, but we only knew the chorus tune so we sang it to both!)

The tune was composed in 21st century America, for "Shiru Lamelech" (also known as Ato Bonim / Ata Banim) whose text is from a piyyut for Shavu'ot. It was popularised by Yeedle, a scion of a musical Gerer Chasidic family dynasty, the Werdygers (including his father Mordechai Ben-David). According to jmusicforum.blogspot.com the song exemplifies the composer's "kumzits" sound and was the foundation of a new style which was imitated by "the whole world".

lyrics

refrain - verse 5 - refrain

credits

from Friday Night with the Cambridge Egalitarian Minyan, released April 1, 2010

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Gal Chadash Cambridge, UK

EgalMin is an inclusive, informal and active community which is famous for its alternative, egalitarian Kabbalat Shabbat services. Being a part of EgalMin means being part of a community which takes great joy in prayer and challenges itself to engage in learning, whilst also providing a social hub for its members and continuing to be an active part of the wider JSoc community. ... more