A setting of the first stanza of Ahuveykha Ahevukha –– a medieval Ashkenazi piyyut by Shimon Hagadol of Mainz (960-1020). This astonishing 44-stanza piyyut incorporates 3 separate acrostics (two alphabetic, one the poet's signature), and the opening two words of each consecutive verse of Shir HaShirim – Song of Songs. This first stanza, sprinkled with additional Song of Song quotes, says: "Your beloveds love you straight up; they sing and play your song; and after them the high angels offer up Song of Songs." This is a piyyut for Shabbat morning during Chol Hamoed Pesach. New setting, rough first recording. You can listen by clicking on the audio player below or clicking here.

I’ve written about this piyyut before. If you’re curious for more, click here.

Here is the text of this first stanza:

אֲהוּבֶיךָ אֲהֵבוּךָ מֵישָׁרִים
שִׁירָתְךָ נוֹגְנִים וְשׁוֹרְרִים
אַחֲרֵמוֹ קִדְּמוּ שָׂרִים
שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִים

Ahuveykha aheyvukha meysharim.
Shirat’kha nog’nim v’shor’rim.
Acharemo kidmu sarim
Shir Hashirim.

They whom thou lovest, do also love thee uprightly;
they sing and chant thy praise;
after them the angels sing
“The song of songs.”

Shimon HaGadol of Mainz (960-1020);
Translation: Rev. David A. De Sola, minister of the Congregation of Spanish and Portuguese Jews, London, 1860.