A Jewish folk song for the Passover seder, arranged by the noted classical music composer Joel Engel. Sung here, with further arrangement, by Marc Berman (that's me). *Please support my mission to record and preserve rare Jewish songs, like this seldom-heard Passover music, by becoming a Patreon member at www.patreon.com/CantorClassics , or by donating any amount (or joining) at www.buymeacoffee.com/cantorclassics . Thanks so much!*
Ki Lo Naeh is a popular and beloved Passover seder song. It is sung towards the end of the seder, along with several other Passover seder songs. These seder songs, though relatively late additions to the Passover seder, have become integral parts of the ritual and essential Passover music. The seder, like the holiday of Passover itself, commemorates the Exodus of the Children of Israel from Egypt over 3000 years ago. Ki Lo Naeh is a prime example of traditional Jewish music; a Passover song that is a veritable classic among Hebrew songs, and Jewish songs in general.
Joel (or Yoel) Engel (1868–1927) was a music critic, composer and a leading figure in the Jewish art music movement. He was born in Russia (now Ukraine), and moved to Berlin in 1922, where he founded the Juwal (Yuval) music publishing house. He moved to the Land of Israel in 1924.
In spite of a warm reception, Engel had a difficult time adjusting to life in the Holy Land. His health gradually failed. On February 11, 1927, Engel died in Tel Aviv.
Engel inspired a generation of Jewish classical musicians to rediscover their roots and create a new style of nationalist Jewish music, patterned after the nationalist music movements of Russia, Slovakia, Hungary and elsewhere.
Engel studied law at the Kharkiv National University, and later, at the insistence of Tchaikovsky, who heard his compositions, entered the Moscow Conservatory.
At first, Engel composed in the increasingly popular Russian nationalist style. However, after Vladimir Stasov, a leading advocate of Russian nationalism in art and music, literally shouted at him, "Where is your national pride in your own people?" Engel returned to his Jewish musical roots.
Engle collected and arranged numerous Yiddish folk melodies and arranged lecture-concerts in Moscow and St. Petersburg. He also wrote the incidental music for Ansky's famous play "The Dybbuk."
Engel was perhaps the first musician to realize that traditional Jewish music was not based on the major-minor tonal system that dominates classical and popular music, but rather on ancient musical modes (e.g., the Phrygian).This harmonic conception is apparent in Engel's compositions.
Engel's musical works consist of piano solo, chamber works, and songs. Like others of the Jewish art music movement, Engel favored songs featuring, besides the vocalist, a small ensemble of piano and one other or several other instruments, such as violin or flute.
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