Ye Jaliya-o

Poet/Lyricist: 

Traditional Lambago lyric (West African griot praise) and Catherine deVink, adapted by Szymko

A celebration of music and musicians. The repeated phrase: "Ye Jaliya-O Alla le ka jaliya da" is the refrain from "Lambango," a centuries old dance-song created by the Jalis (griots) of West Africa. The Jalis are a caste of professional itinerant musicians,poets and story tellers; keepers of history and culture for over 800 years. This text, which praises music, is combined with an excerpt from "The Pulse of Life," by Catherine deVink, a contemporary Christian mystical poet. The tonality of "Ye Jaliya-o" with its raised fourth (C#) is characteristic of Sauta, one of the traditional tunings of the kora, the 21 string harp-like instrument played by the griots.

Level: 

Mod-Advanced
Item Voicing/Instrumentation Duration Price Audio View Score Quantity
SBMP 726 SATB, hand drums & percussion 4:15 $2.35 Santa Barbara Music Press
Publisher Link
SBMP 734 SSAA, hand drums & percussion 4:15 $2.10 Santa Barbara Music Press
Publisher Link

Publisher: 

SBMP
Text

Ye Jaliya-o

Ye Jalliya-o,
Allah le ka Jaliya da

you are the heart
you are the beat
you are the sound
you are the heart and the pounding of the heart

Translation: 

Ye Jalliya-o, Allah le ka Jaliya da
Oh music, God created music!