This week, the students have been learning about Klezmer music, and the Ahavah Rabah (with an abundant love) mode. They know that a mode is a scale that starts on a note other than the base note of a scale, and that the Ahava Rabah mode has a specific, almost sad sound when played alone. However, when used to compose melodies, from classical to klezmer, the mode is very versatile, and conveys a variety of different moods.
An example of Classical Ahava Rabah Mode
An Example of Klezmer Ahava Rabah Mode
In addition to learning about the Ahava Rabah mode, we have expanded our Yiddish vocabulary with descriptive words such as freilich (happy), gutt (good), shayna (beautiful), meshuggah (crazy) and nouns that are brought to mind when listening to certain kinds of music in the Ahava Rabah mode: chutzpah (daring), shalom (peace), naches or simcha (joy), bagalan (chaos), and tsuris (anxiety).
Today, the students began a musical art project in which they convey the many "moods" of the Ahava Rabah mode. They listened to various examples of music in this mode, and expressed their feelings through art.
In Hebrew, the students are learning how to form the letters of the alef bet. This week's letter is lamed.
Musically, we have been learning many new songs, as well as revisiting some old favorites. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the 5th and 6th graders enjoyed singing Betzelem Elohim (In the Image of God) with Erik:
On Sunday, the students had an opportunity to learn a new dance to Adamah VeShamayim.
Next Sunday, we are very lucky to have an expert in Yiddish and Klezmer come to visit our class. We look forward to learning even more about this, and other types of Jewish musical expression.
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