Apart from the Russian-based ones, shepherd songs have to be my favourite style of Hebrew folk music. It's sort of a grass-roots thing. There was a search for an Israeli national identity, which, of course, involved music too. They hearkened back to the Old Testament, not in a religious sense, as an example of how the ancient Hebrews lived and how the new Hebrew nation should. They also looked to the Bedouin, to see how a modern people lived a similar lifestyle to the Bible. The shepherd was a very romantic figure. Out alone, among the rocks and hills, like King David, it was a life fraught with danger. Apart from wild animals (which threat diminished with time), a shepherd had to worry about robbers. Need I say that a solitary shepherd with a large flock is very vulnerable? Of course this romantic figure wasn't faint-hearted, but he wasn't grim and gloomy either. He would dance and play music on his flute for the sheep. So far as the music goes, it was either based on Bedouin folk tunes, dabkehs and airs, etc., or used the actual tunes. The lyrics were in a rich, Biblical vein, very poetic. Two of the leading figures in this music were Emanuel Zamir and Yosef Hadar. More about the former later. Anyone who has heard more than just Hava Nagila probably knows a Yosef Hadar song. He composed some of the best folky pop, like Erev Shel Shoshanim (an evening of roses). I love this song, 'Shuva Elai' (Return unto me). How can you keep from singing along? The performers here are the Amranim. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6VTUAFr8cQ The ho, ho, in the song should be sung not like a Santa Claus would, but longer. Hard to explain, but listen to the clip. ^^ Lyrics: Amos Ettinger Music: Yosef Hadar
The lights have gone out as they had yesterday down the path rings: the sound of my horse's hooves who'd gone lost in the sands the sound of the hooves of my lost horse.
Ho, ho, return unto me return unto me from the desert ho, ho, return unto me together we shall ride.
The sounds are of yesterday the sound of shooting and battle: so my father has followed the sand and my father has yet to return.
ho, ho, return unto me return, for it has been years ho, ho, return unto me here the roses are in bloom.
The nights which have come here haven't brought a dream: my girl has gone I know not where without saying, without saying farewell.
Ho, ho, return unto me return, for the day has gone down ho, ho, return unto me return, if but to say farewell.
The winds which have blown like they have yesterday they've whispered again and again: on my horse shall father return from the sands and by boat shall my girl return.
Ho, ho, they've returned unto me returned together like yesterday ho, ho, they've returned unto me returned from their path in the sands.