Yo le mandí a mi novio
una fez d’al-lí
con un ducado en la frente
medio funduklí.
Ansí, ansí, mi alma, ansí,
Oh, que buena la mi ventura
que vos alcancí.
Con diez minianim de gente
seva berajot vos dí.
Ansí, ansí…
Yo le mandí a mi novia
un top de sal’li,
de la listica minuda
fustán farbalali.
Ansí, ansí …,
Yo le mandi a mi novio
pastelicos yaglís
porque era mi primo hermano
yo me namorí.
Ansí, ansí…..
I gave my groom
a silk fez (hat)
with a golden coin
placed on the forehead
So, so my soul
How lucky was I
when I met you
With ten minyanim of men
Will I give you the sheva brachot
I gave my bride
a piece of cloth
with small stripes,
and a pleated skirt
So, so….
I gave my groom
pastry rolls well done in oil
because he is my cousin
and and I am in love with him
So, so….
Jerusalem National Sound Archives placement: YCD2980/10
Referenced and notated in: El Ciclo de la Vida, en el Repertorio Musical de las Comunidades Sefardies de Oriente, Editorial Alpuerto S.A. 2013, Susana Weich-Shahak
Reflecting the custom of interchange of presents between bride and groom, this song shows the elements of their costumes. The bride sends to the groom a headgear adorned with silk (una fez d'ali), and on it, a ducat on the forehead, a coin as big as half a hazelnut (medio fundukli). The groom sends to his bride a piece of cloth with small stripes, and a pleated skirt (fostan farbalali).The bride has sent pastry rolls well done in oil (pastelikos yaghli), because he was her cousin and she fell in love with him (as was frequent to marry among cousins). The refrain shows the groom's joy for his good luck to marry his beloved in the wedding ceremony (kidusin) celebrated not with one minyan (ten men, as required by the religious precept) but with ten minyanim (100 men!). The music has a rhythm known in Turkish music, combining bars of 2+2+2+3 in a 9/8 meter.
This website was created by Orit Perlman with the collaboration and blessings of Dr. Susana Weich-Shahak in 2025