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. 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 sent to my groom a silk fez (hat) with a dukat on the forehead the size of a large coin So, so my soul How lucky was I when I attained you With ten minyanim of men I gave 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, 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