We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Ma Nishtana

from The Four Questions by Zohar's Nigun

supported by
/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $1 USD  or more

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    4 panel gatefold wallet with a single pocket printed in full colour on recycled coated stock with matt cello finish. Photography care of Alex Weltlinger, Barnabas Imre and Gabor Balogh. Artwork care of Dean Burton and Ella Egidy.

    Includes unlimited streaming of The Four Questions via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $15 USD or more 

     

about

Concepts behind 'The Four Questions' by Zohar's Nigun (interview with Daniel Weltlinger, September 2012):

This song sums up the very concept of Zohar's Nigun, and it is in a way also about the origin of the Jewish people. The album title is based on the translation of 'Ma Nishtana' from the Passover seder meal which translates as 'The Four Questions.' In Zohar's Nigun we are four musicians with a Jewish background, and this background is an entirely personal thing that can't be neatly summed up or explained. All four of us - like all human beings of any background - have our own interpretations, conflicts, associations etc with this aspect of our identity. There is also the fact that we are all Australian or have been living in Australia for a long time, as well as which countries our respective families are from, which further complicates this notion of identity. The Four Questions are the four musicians in the band, and this also alludes to how happening to be of Jewish background raises more questions than it does straight answers. The song starts off simply enough with the call and response exactly as happens at the annual Passover Seder meal, with each band member taking a turn to interpret the main melody. As the song progresses it becomes more rowdy and crazy symbolising the seder table getting more drunk, the crazy history of all our families, the crazy irony of being Australians combined with our Jewish heritage ie what is it to 'be' etc....

lyrics

English:

What makes this night different from all other nights?

On all nights we need not dip even once, on this night we do so twice?

On all nights we eat chametz or matzah, and on this night only matzah?

On all nights we eat any kind of vegetables, and on this night maror?

On all nights we eat sitting upright or reclining, and on this night we all recline?


Hebrew:

Mah nishtanah halyla hazeh mikol halaylot

She'bechol halaylot ain anu matbilin afilu pa'am echat, halyla hazeh shtei pe'amim?

She'bechol halaylot anu ochlim chametz o matza, halyla hazeh kulo maztah?

She'bechol halaylot anu ochlim she'ar yerakot, halyla hazeh maror?

She'bechol halaylot anu ochlim bain yoshvin bain mesubin, halyla hazeh kulanu mesubin?

מַה נִּשְּׁתַּנָה הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה מִכָּל הַלֵּילוֹת
שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת אָנוּ אוֹכְלִין חָמֵץ וּמַצָּה,

הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה כּוּלוֹ מַצָּה.
שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת אָנוּ אוֹכְלִין שְׁאָר יְרָקוֹת,

הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה מָרוֹר.
שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת אֵין אֶנוּ מַטְבִּילִין אֲפִילוּ פַּעַם אֶחָת,

הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה שְׁתֵּי פְעָמִים.
שֶׁבְּכָל הַלֵּילוֹת אָנוּ אוֹכְלִין בֵּין יוֹשְׁבִין וּבֵין מְסֻבִּין,

הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה כֻּלָנו מְסֻבִּין


Yiddish:

Tate ich vil bei dir fregen di fir kashes:

Ma nishtana halayla hazeh mikol haleylos. Vos iz anderesh fun der nacht fun Pesach fun ale necht fun a gants yor?

Di ershte kashe iz,

Sheb'chol haleylos eyn anu matbilin afilu pa'am echas, halayla hazeh sh'tey p'amim?

Ale necht fun a gants yor tunken mir nisht ayn afileh eyn mol, ober di nacht fun peysach, tunken mir ayn tsvey mol -- ayn mol karpas in zaltz vasser, di tsveyte mol maror in charoses?

Di tsveyte kashe iz,

Sheb'chol haleylos anu ochlin chameytz oy matzah, halayla hazeh kulo matzah?

Ale necht fun a gants yor esn mir chomets ader matseh, ober di nakht fun peysakh, esn mir nor matseh?

Di drite kashe iz,

Sheb'chol haleylos anu ochlin sh'ar yerakos, halayla hazeh maror?

Ale necht fun a gants yor esn mir alerlay grintsen, ober di nacht fun peysach, esn mir nor bitere grintsen?

Di ferte kashe iz,

Sheb'chol haleylos onu ochlin beyn yoshvin uveyn m'subin, halayla hazeh kulanu m'subin?

Ale necht fun a gants yor esn mir say zitsndikerheit un say ongeleynterheit, ober di nakht fun peysach, esn mir nor ongeleynterheit?

Tate ich hob bei dir gefrekdt di di fir kashes yetzt gib mir a teretz.


German:

Was unterscheidet diese Nacht von allen anderen Nächten?

In allen anderen Nächten brauchen wir nicht ein einziges Mal einzutunken, in dieser Nacht zweimal?

In allen anderen Nächten können wir Gesäuertes und Ungesäuertes essen, in dieser Nacht nur Ungesäuertes?

In allen anderen Nächten können wir verschiedene Kräuter essen, in dieser Nacht nur bittere Kräuter?

In allen anderen Nächten können wir freisitzend oder angelehnt essen, in dieser Nacht sitzen wir alle angelehnt?


French:

Pourquoi cette nuit se différencie-t-elle de toutes les autres nuits?

Toutes les nuits, nous ne sommes pas tenus de tremper même une seule fois, cette nuit nous le faisons deux fois?

Toutes les nuits, nous mangeons du 'Hametz ou de la Matzah, cette nuit, seulement de la Matzah?

Toutes les nuits, nous mangeons n'importe quel sorte de légumes, cette nuit, du Maror?

Toutes les nuits, nous mangeons assis ou accoudés, cette nuit, nous sommes tous accoudés?


Spanish:

Qué hace diferente a esta noche de todas las [demás] noches? Ma nishtaná haláila hazé micól haleilót?

En todas las noches no precisamos sumergir ni siquiera una vez, ¡y en esta noche lo hacemos dos veces? ...shebejól haleilót éin ánu matbilín afílu paám eját, haláila hazé shtéi peamím?

En todas las noches comemos jametz o matzá, ¡en esta noche solamente matzá? ...shebejól haleilót ánu ojlín jamétz umatzá, haláila hazé kuló matzá?

En todas las noches comemos cualquier clase de verdura, ¡esta noche maror? ...shebejól haleilót ánu ojlín sheár ieracót, haláila hazé marór?

En todas las noches comemos sentados erguidos o reclinados, ¡esta noche todos nos reclinamos!


Italian:

Perché è diversa questa sera da tutte le altre?

Perché tutte le sere non intingiamo neppure una volta questa sera lo facciamo due volte?

Perché tutte le sere noi mangiamo chamètz e matzà questa sera soltanto matzà?

Perché tutte le sere noi mangiamo qualsiasi verdura questa sera maròr?

Perché tutte le sere noi mangiamo e beviamo sia seduti e sia adagiati, ma questa sera siamo tutti adagiati?

credits

from The Four Questions, released April 14, 2012

license

tags

about

Zohar's Nigun Berlin, Germany

contact / help

Contact Zohar's Nigun

Streaming and
Download help

Report this track or account