Folk Sheet Music
Hava Nagilah
Folk sheet music Hava Nagilah, now with an EASIER arrangement!
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
This is folk music from the Hebrew tradition
Hava Nagila is a beautiful minor-sounding Hebrew song.
Listen to the elementary arrangement here:
Not actually in a minor key, but with an alluring tonality due to the lowered second plus the raised third, Hava Nagila has an irresistible tune and Hebrew words.
Though this is an easier arrangement, it is still the full melody - for three pages of sheet music! Look at pages 2 and 3:
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
What is different from the old arrangement?
For this easier version, I have substituted plain open chords ("1" and "5" fingers in left hand), and simplified the melody in just a few spots. I have also done away with complicated finger replacements such as 3-2-1 all in a row.
Those were stumbling blocks for students in the past, who liked the song, but had to ramp up too many skills all at once to conquer it. I think I actually PREFER this new arrangement musically... I'm still thinking about it. But I like how left hand drops an octave, for a bigger sound, at the repetition of the initial phrase.
Just for fun, listen to this audio from YouTube: This is SO EXCITING... the men's voices are very stirring!
The intermediate version
This free arrangement for early intermediate piano students is charged with energy, partly because of the fast left-hand split chords, but mainly because the song is inherently full of musical tension.
Much harder! But very energetic, and mesmerizing.
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
A video:
Gauge your student's readiness
This folk sheet music arrangement is for early intermediate piano students, who are comfortable with:
- coordinating fast-moving chord patterns in the left hand,
- a bit of syncopated rhythm in the right hand,
- crossing under and over,
- and picking up the hands and moving them to a new place on the piano.
These elements happen separately early on in piano method books, but not usually together until (in FJH's Piano Adventures series, at any rate) late level 2B or early 3A.
Therefore, gauge the enthusiasm of your student for this song carefully before pressing it on them! With all that said, this is likely to be a very popular piece, especially with young boys who like to play fast and loud.
Finger substitution - an opportunity for a new skill
The 3-2-1 finger substitution that begins in measure 25 is fun to do and a good introduction to this skill, which helps control the speed of the notes.
But ignore the fingering, if your student fights it. Attitude is everything - make it a challenge, not a chore!
Here is a very polished rendition of Hava Nagilah, quite traditional:
The translation of Hava Nagila:
Hava nagila ve-nismecḥa = Let us rejoice and be happy
Hava neranenah ve-nismecḥa = Let us sing and be happy
Uru, uru acḥim! = Awake, awake, brothers!
Uru acḥim be-lev sameacḥ = Awake brothers with a happy heart
Be-lev sameacḥ = With a happy heart
Who wrote Hava Nagila?
For information on who wrote Hava Nagilah as it is known in its present form, check out this page at RadioHazak.com.
And one more video, a live performance of showy orchestra players and violinist Andre Rieu:
I know your students will enjoy this lively free piano sheet music!
The links to the piano music:
Download new easier arrangement of Hava Nagilah
Download folk sheet music Hava Nagila
Danielle Rosa Manning:
Just wanted you to know, I downloaded your Halloween music and the kids went bonkers for it. They loved having a bunch of easy pieces they could learn en masse, and were throwing each other little Halloween music parties at home. Thanks so much!
Dianna:
Your website is a light in the darkness. THANK YOU for all you do in helping to spread the love of music. It matters!
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All the first-year material I give my beginner students.
Piano keyboard sheets, scales, chords, note-reading exercises, and over 256 pages of music!
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About the Author
Hi, I'm Dana! (Say that like "Anna".) I'm the owner of Music-for-Music-Teachers.com, and a newer site, SingTheBibleStory.com.
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