Agadelcha
(Israel)
Song Title: Agadelcha (Hebrew: אגדלך; English translation: I will praise you (God))
Lyricist: Rabbi Avraham Ibn Ezra
Composer: Ancient Yemenite folk song
Vocalist: Michael Sinuni
Choreographer: Israel Yakovee, 1979.
Dance Title: Same as the song title
Chinese Dance Title: 讚美詩
Formation: Circle dance, short chain, w-mount position (arms bent, holding hands with neighbors, with neighbors left hand up, right hand down, arms close together).
This song belongs to a Jewish literary genre, translated into English as Piyut, and פיוט in original Hebrew. Piyut is a Jewish liturgical poem that follows a specific poetic format, written in Mishnaic Hebrew or Jewish Palestinian Aramaic, and is typically presented in religious ceremonies in the form of singing, chanting, or reciting.
This poem was written by Rabbi Avraham Ibn Ezra, who was born in the 11th century A.D. and was active in the 12th century A.D. Rabbi is pronounced close to /ˈræb.aɪ/, literally means my teacher or master in Hebrew. While you could think of them as a Scripture Master because of their deep expertise in Jewish law and texts, they function primarily as teachers, spiritual leaders, and community guides. Teacher Frog has introduced this in many Israeli dances, so I wont repeat it here. Rabbi Avraham Ibn Ezra was a Jewish-Spanish scholar, poet, and scientist.
Rabbi Avraham Ibn Ezra: (The person in the middle of the picture using an astrolabe; cameras hadnt been invented yet in the 12th century A.D., so there are only portraits for reference. 
)
Image source: Traditional Chinese Wikipedia
Original Hebrew text of this poem: (Source: Jewish Liturgical Poetry Database: https://zemirotdatabase.org/)
אֲגַדֶּלְךָ אֱלֹהֵי כָּל-נְשָׁמָה. וְאוֹדֶךָ בְּרָב-פַּחַד וְאֵימָה:
בְּעָמְדִי תֹּוךְ קְהַלְךָ צוּר לְרוֹמֵם. לְךָ אֶכְרַע וְאֶכּוֹף רֹאשׁ וְקוֹמָה:
רְקִיעֵי רוּם הֲלֹא נָטָה בְּמִבְטָא. וְהָאָרֶץ יְסָדָהּ עַל בְּלִימָה:
הֲיוּכַל אִיש חֲקוֹר אֶת סוֹד יוֹצְרוֹ. וּמִי הוּא זֶה בְּכָל-קֶדְמָה וְיָמָּה:
מְרֹומָם הוּא עֲלֵי כָל-פֶּה וְלָשוֹן. אֲשֶר הִפְלִיא וְעָשָׂה-כָּל בְּחָכְמָה:
וְיִתְגַּדַּל בְּגוֹי קָדוֹש וְעֶלְיוֹן. וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵיהּ רַבָּא בְּעָלְמָא:
Transliteration of this poem: (Source: Australian Israeli Folk Dance Website:https://www.israelidances.com/)
Agadelcha Elohei kol neshamah
Veodecha berov pachad veeimah
(2S)
Beomdi toch kehalchah
Tzur leromem
Lecha ekrah
veekof rosh vekomah
Rekiei rum -
Halo nata bemivtah?
Vehaaretz yesadah al belimah
(2S)
Hayuchal ish chakor et sod yotzro
Umi hu zeh berov pachad veeimah
Meromam Hu alei kol peh velashon
Asher hifli veasah kol bechochmah
Veyitgadal begoy kadosh veelyon
Veyitkadash shemei rabah bealmah
(2S)
English translation of this poem: (Source: Jewish Liturgical Poetry Database: https://zemirotdatabase.org/)
I will greaten Your [reputation], God of all souls, and I will praise You with abundance of fear and awe.
In my standing within Your congregation, forever to exalt; to You I will kneel and lower my head and stature.
The firmament of heights, hasnt He planted [it] with [just a] grunt?—and the land, [he] established it on nothingness.
Is a man able [to] investigate the secret of his creation? And who is He Who is in every location?
He is praised by every mouth and tongue, which He miracled and made each in His wisdom.
And His [reputation] is exalted by a sacred and lofty nation; and may His Great Name be sanctified in the world!
Chinese translation of this poem: (Source: Teacher Frogs pen.
)
我將彰顯祢,掌管所有靈魂的神啊.帶著敬畏的心讚頌祢
身為祢的信徒,我將永遠讚頌祢,跪拜伏倒在祢的面前
在蒼穹之巔,只要祂一聲低吟,便種下種子;—而這個大地,都是祂從無到有中建立起來的.
人類能夠探索出祂創造這個世界的奧秘嗎?這位無所不在的祂又是誰呢?
祂用它的智慧與奇蹟創造出來的每一張口,每一寸舌都在讚頌祂
祂的名被一個神聖而崇高的民族所頌揚;願祂偉大的聖名在世間永垂不朽!
Piyut is chanted in many Jewish religious ceremonial occasions, such as the weekly Shabbat (which is the Sabbath) and so on. Here, the boss (It’s me, Teacher Frog!) treats you to a rendition of this poem chanted by Yoav Siani, a Jewish man in New York, USA:
The music used for the folk dance version is the 3rd song "אגדלך" on Side A of the album "עתיק נושן", released on January 1, 1976, by the band סדנת תאטרון שכונת התקוה.
Album Vinyl Record of עתיק נושן_Front Cover:
Album Vinyl Record of עתיק נושן_Back Cover:
Album Vinyl Record of עתיק נושן_Side A: (Agadelcha is the 3rd song on Side A)
Album Vinyl Record of עתיק נושן_Side B:
The boss treats you to the original folk dance music:
The boss treats you to the original language dance description of this dance:
Finally, the boss treats you to the reference demonstration video by the original choreographer:
References:
1. Australian Israeli Folk Dance Website:
2. Jewish Liturgical Poetry Database:
3. Online Vinyl Record Website:
4. Piyut North America Website:
