The first version of Lecha Dodi that I recall from early childhood began “Az mir zingen lecha dodi / lomir zingen chiri biri bim / as mir zingen likras kalaw / lomir zingen chiri biri bom” — readers familiar with Yiddish in scat-singing can probably tell how it goes from there. ;-)
It was interesting to search utube for melodies I recalled and for new ones. Readers may find yet more to share in comments from other music/video sites. The lilt and verve of this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKFGk2XNWME beautifully marks the difference between the six days of the work-week and Shabbat, the “seventh”, the day of rest.
Depending upon upbringing, as to secular or religious or any variation thereof, and as to from where in the world, the following wikipedia description may apply more or less or otherwise, but the history is the same:
LEKHAH DODI (Hebrew: לכה דודי; also transliterated as Lecha Dodi, L'chah Dodi, Lekah Dodi, Lechah Dodi; Ashkenazic pronunciation: Lecho or Lechaw Dodi) is a Hebrew-language Jewish liturgical song recited Friday at dusk, usually at sundown, in synagogue, welcoming Shabbat prior to the evening services. It is part of the Kabbalat Shabbat ("welcoming of Sabbath")…. [in which “bride” and “queen” are metaphors for Shabbat). During the singing of the last verse, the entire congregation rises and turns to the west towards the setting sun, to greet "Queen Shabbat" as she arrives.
It was composed in the 16th century by Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz, who was born in Thessaloniki and later became a Safed[Tzfat] Kabbalist. As was common at the time, the song is also an acrostic, with the first letter of the first eight stanzas spelling the author's name. The author draws from the… Song of Songs ... It is one of the latest of the Hebrew poems regularly accepted into the liturgy, both in the southern use, which the author followed, and in the more distant northern rite…
EXTENSIVE ARTICLE AT THE FIRST LINK
There are maaaany melodies, in all kinds of moods and tempos, some with enhancements or variations of wording. A sampling is/are below the fold, and some of the visuals are quite something too! Text in Hebrew, English transliteration, and English translation are here, mostly easy to follow along there while listening to one or another of the melodies.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j_DEGjfKQk
The next melody is also known for Etz HaRimon (pomegranate tree) recorded at least as early as 1960 (by Martha Schlamme ) and as recently as January 2018 by Orit Shimoni.
Next is a Yemenite melody with what sounds like Greek/Balkan instruments. It may be reasonable to predict that this will not be heard/sung in Yemen again in our lifetimes, possibly never again, since last report (about ten months ago) was that the remaining Jewish population in Yemen numbered perhaps 50 as a result of deaths and flight from war, destruction, and ethnic cleansing .
[See also In a Yemeni Town, Hardship Awaits Displaced Civilians By Aziz El Yaakoubi March 13, 2018, for Reuters via Medscape (free site, just have to register)]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oujW9bXapeY
Another evocative one — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9aQai2F4Fw
Ragtime/Jazz — lots of versions of this, very popular, apparently!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aevi1t7mVNc
The second melody I ever learned is my favorite, nicely contemplative in mood, delicate and restful, readily playable on guitar and probably many other instruments good for playing by ear. Most likely I learned it from this 1958 recording by Geula Gil or from Theodore Bikel (not in their best voices on those recordings, unfortunately). The Karmon Israeli group recorded it in the early ‘60s, too, but I can’t find it on utube, nor any mention of composer. The below version of it is recent, with much the harmony I recall. This, the Gill recording and Bikel’s are the only ones I was able to find for this melody, greatly to my surprise.
Readers by all means link in comments more versions you like.
Shabbat Shalom.
Writers please volunteer in comments or kosmail to the group. Parshayot unspoken-for by the preceding Tuesday may/might be filled by cultural diaries posting Thursday. As well as writers, we could use a volunteer schedule/ calendar coordinator for the parashot in Vayikra/Leviticus. See ramara’s non-publish list of 5778 shabbat/parsha dates in the queue, and this diary of dated, linked parsha names & readings for copy-pastable scheduling (like as follows):
VAYIKRA / Leviticus
Mar 17, 2018 Parashat Vayikra Lev.1:1-5:26, Isa. 43:21–44:23 BY____________
Mar 24 Tzav, Shabbat HaGadol Lev. 6:1-8:36, Mal. 3:4–24 BY____________
■ Fri. Mar 30, 2018 Ta’anit Bechorot [Fast of the Firstborn dawn to sunset] erev Pesach - Passover/First Seder begins at sunset, Shabbat ________________
Mar 31 Pesach I - Pesach Shabbat I Ex. 12:21-51, maf. Num. 28:16-25, Josh.3:5-7; 5:2–6:1, 27,[Josh. 5:2–6:1, 27] 2nd seder@sunset_________
■ Sun. Apr 1, 2018 Pesach II ______________
Apr7 Pesach VIII, Pesach Shabbat II, Deut.14:22–16:17, maf. Num. 28:19-25, Isa. 10:32–12:6 BY_____________
■ Thur Apr 12, 2018 Yom HaSho'ah [Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day] ________________
Apr 14 Shemini Lev. 9:1-11:47, 2 Sam. 6:1–7:17 [2 Sam. 6:1-19] BY__________
■ Wed. Apr 18, 2018 Yom HaZikaron [Israeli Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism Memorial Day] ________________
■ Thur Apr 19 Yom Ha'atzmaut [Israel Independence Day] BY_________
Apr 21 Tazria-Metzorah Lev.12:1–15:33, 2 Kgs.7:3-20 BY______________
Apr 28 Acharei Mot -Kedoshim Lev.16:1–20:27, Amos 9:7-15 [Ezek. 20:2-20] BY____________
■ Thurs May 3, 2018 Lag BaOmer _____________
May 5 Emor Lev. 21:1–24:23, Ezek. 44:15-31 BY___________
May 12 Behar-Bechukotai Lev. 25:1–26:2, Jer.16:19–17:14 BY___________
■ Sun. May 13, 2018 Yom Yerushalayim ____________
BAMIDBAR /Numbers
May 19 Parashat Ba’Midbar Num.1:1–4:20, Hos. 2:1-22 BY_____________