Clawhammer Cello Banjo - Hava Nagila

http://www.banjocrazy.com/ Hi, my name is Paul Roberts; I'm a multicultural roots musician, multi-instrumentalist and composer. And I'm trying to awaken the world to cello banjos... and sell one (at least) to everybody in the world. Cello banjos are growly beasts that have only very recently returned to us from antiquity. These instruments -- and all Gold Tone musical instruments -- are available through my website: http://www.banjocrazy.com/ where you can also find my phone number to call me, free, within the US.

For Hava Nagila I'm playing a Gold Tone 5-string Cello Banjo (CEB-5), tuned gCGCD. Hava Nagila is a Hebrew folk song, the title meaning "let us rejoice". It is a song of celebration, especially popular amongst Jewish and Romani communities, and is a staple of band performers at Jewish festivals. The melody was taken from a Ukrainian folk song from Bukovina.

Hava Nagila is often played to accompany the horah, a type of circle dance originating in the Balkans but also found in other countries. It became a national dance in Israel, having been brought to Israel by the Romanian settlers in the second half of the 19th century.

In the early days, Horah was popular mainly in the Kibbutzim and small communities. Later it became a must in group dances throughout Israel, and at weddings and other celebrations by Jews in Israel, the United States and Canada. The dance appeared in North America in the early 20th century, well before modern Israeli independence, brought directly from Eastern Europe by Jewish immigrants.

At bar and bat mitzvahs, it is custom to raise the honoree and his or her family members on a chair during the horah. This is also done nowadays at many Jewish weddings, following the Israeli tradition.

To start the dance, everybody forms a circle, holding hands, and steps forward toward the right with the left foot, then follows with the right foot. The left foot is then brought back, followed by the right foot. This is done while holding hands and circling together in a fast and cheerful motion to the right. Large groups allow for the creation of several concentric circles.

I have a bunch of videos on my YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/strumstering including several featuring 4 and 5-string cello banjos. Visit my site and peruse the many remarkable instruments from Gold Tone, a unique instrument manufacturing company that I happen to represent. Also read exclusive interviews with banjo legends such as Adam Hurt, Cathy Fink, Bob Carlin, Marcy Marxer and others. Check out Adam Hurt playing gourd banjo on my YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/strumstering

I'm a multi-instrumentalist who, for the past couple of years, has taken a fascination to cello banjos.
I live in a small rural mountain village in Colorado. I enjoy hearing from other banjo players and from others who might consider taking up the instrument.

PauL
http://www.banjocrazy.com/ Gold Tone instruments and artist profiles

Category:

Music

Tags:

• cello banjo
• clawhammer banjo
• Gold Tone cello banjo CEB-5
• hora
• Hava Nagila
• Paul Roberts
• banjocrazy.com
• Hebrew folk song
• Jewish festivals
• 5-string banjo
• clawhammer
• international folk music
• traditional music
• banjo
• Middle Eastern music

[ChikaVadik]

You are really talented!

[strumstering]

@ChikaVadik

Much appreciated. Thank you very much.

PauL banjocrazydotcom

[elektronikboy07]

yo are a genius!

[strumstering]

@elektronikboy07

Thanks for your compliment. I'm in no way a genius, but if you enjoyed my playing I'm happy.

PauL

banjocrazydotcom

[grovatronn]

sweet tunes, sir

[coconutgirl730]

Cool

[TheCARENTAN]

Très jolie version

Bravo

[strumstering]

@Pepete1969 Thanks, florian, I look forward to that. Say hello to your grandfather from me.

PauL

banjocrazydotcom

[strumstering]

@Pepete1969 Thanks very much for your kind words. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'd love to hear your grandfather. What does he play?

PauL at banjocrazydotcom

[TheDreadmaster1]

i like the first grin ;D

i love this song absolutely great work