Jerusalem National Sound Archives placement: Yc2140/22 Referenced and notated in: El ciclo de la vida, pg. 77, Editorial Alpuerto, 2013 Susana Weich-Shahak. A dance song performed at weddings in which the dance movements follow the actions described in the text such as scattering the grains of wheat, sifting the flour, stepping into the sea and dancing. A rare song describing a woman's life cycle through the symbolism of planting grains of wheat following all the steps of creating bread as well as learning to dance in the sea. Some versions of this song include more stages, here we have eight. This song as well as many other North Moroccan wedding songs are sung consecutively with a continual rhythm accompanied by a single castanet. Lyrics: Viva Orduena lo 1. afesha en su arenal Ya asi lo afesha , viva Ordunea Y asi metiran sus pies en el mar y asi me ensenaran a bailer 1. afesha 2. corta 3. coĝe 4. lleva 5. seca 6. mole 7. amasa 8. come Translation : Viva Orduenia 1. scatters the wheat grain in the sand So she scatters the wheat grain Viva Orduenia As I dip my feet deep inside the sea And I dance as my teachers have taught me 1. scatters 2. cuts 3. gathers 4. carries 5. dries 6. grinds 7. kneads 8. eats
This website was created by Orit Perlman with the collaboration and blessings of Dr. Susana Weich-Shahak in 2025