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SONGS OF LOVE & HOPE: Solomon ibn Gabirol
by Pieter Uys
http://www.logoslibrary.eu/owawt/new_wordtheque.w6_home_author.home?code_author=17281&lang=EN
Ibn Gabirol’s religious poetry is filled with a mystic awe of God, and much of it has been incorporated into the Judaic liturgy. His great philosophical work, TheWell of Life, showing the influence of Neo-Platonism, was written in Arabic. In itsLatin translation (Fons vitae), it exercised a great influence on Christian thought.The book is an attempt to explain the universality of matter, man’s purpose inlife, and the communion of man’s soul with the spiritual sources that created it.
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Of all the Jewish medieval poets & philosophers who flourished in the
golden age of Andalusian culture, Solomon ibn Gabirol was the
greatest. This collection of devotional poetry was translated into English
verse by Israel Zangwill from a critical text by Professor Israel Davidsonwho was an authority on Hebrew poetry and Jewish liturgy.
In the Introduction, Davidson discusses the scant biographical
information and the nature and impact of Gabirol's timeless work, as
well as those of his contemporaries. Born in Malaga in 1021 or 1022,
Solomon was a prominent philosopher and poet, and a contemporary of
El Cid, Spain's national hero. He belonged to the third period of Hebrew
poetry in Spain.
Orphaned at a young age, Gabirol spent his formative years in
Saragossa and began his literary career at about sixteen. He was
supported by patrons, first Yekutiel then Samuel HaNagid. His other
literary works include Biblical exegesis, Hebrew grammar, philosophy ðics. More than 300 poems survive, half secular and half religious.
Written in Arabic, only two of his more than 20 books on ethics and
philosophy have survived, one of which is the famous Fountain of Life
(Fons Vitae).
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The influence of the Sefer Yetzirah on his poetry is marked, and his
lyrics have a permanent appeal to the emotions, aspirations and
yearning of mankind. Davidson quotes from Moses ben Ezra and Harizi,
two medieval critics who appreciated his work. He concludes byaffirming that Gabirol's words are a sanctuary to which the weary in
heart turn for consolation, the troubled in mind for guidance and all
lovers of beauty for partaking in exuberant joy.
A chapter on the translation by Israel Zangwill comes next. The poems
in this volume were all incorporated or designed for the liturgy of the
synagogue. In them, one encounters the devotional spirit aligning itself
more with individual expression than tradition. There is a strong
personal quality about them. Gabirol was the first Hebrew poet to use
secular images and philosophy in his verse and also the first really great
Hebrew poet to employ rhyme and meter.
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Before Gabirol, rhyme or meter was not used much. Biblical poetry has
parallelism but it is mainly the accent that counts; in other words, it was
free verse. The English translations are in rhyme in order to preserve
the singing element, except for the magnificent Keter Malkut (The RoyalCrown) which takes up 41 pages. The original Hebrew rhymes but has
no fixed meter. A long philosophical poem, its exquisite beauty of
expression complements its profundity of thought.
There are 50 poems, from At The Dawn to The Royal Crown. The
English versions are on the left page and the Hebrew on the right. They
are most moving and spiritually uplifting, especially those dealing with
the wounded heart of Israel. Like a melody of eternal hope they lead the
reader closer to God. All of them are memorable, but those I remember
well after the first reading include The Messiah, Before My King, My
Refuge, Ecstasy, The Redemption, God and Israel, My Lord and King,
Lord of the World and Lord of Heaven.
The book concludes with Notes on the Introduction, Notes on the Text
(on the poems - mainly references to scripture and grammatical
explanations), a Hebrew version of the previous and a short section
titled Technical Payyetanic Terms in this Collection. These appear to be
liturgical elements preceding prayers and benedictions, probably the
same as what is called "antiphons" in Christian devotional music, for
example the work of Hildegard von Bingen.
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Complete list of poems in Selected Religious Poems of Solomon ibn Gabirol:
At the Dawn
My Soul Shall Declare
The Messiah
Invitation
Three Things Conspire
Before My King
Open the Gate
Pour Out Thy Heart
Six Years Were Decreed`Tis Joy to Me
My Refuge
Ecstasy
I Have Sought Thee Daily
Humble of Spirit
For a Marriage
The Sun
The Redemption
God and Israel
Reassurance
Duologue
Establish Peace
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Judgment
Prayer for the Hazzan
Two Things Have Met
For New Year's Day
My Lord and King
Blow Ye the Trumpet
Let the Isles Rejoice
For the Day of Memorial
God Dwelleth High
For Atonement Eve
Lord of the World
Lord, What is Man?
The Day of Judgment
Lamentation
The Dwellers in Clay
Almighty God
The Lord of Heaven
Ask of Me
Forget hey AfflictionTo My Soul
Look up to Thy Maker
Invocation
Benediction
My Heart Clamours
Arise, O My Rapture
Passover Psalm
O God, My Sun
The Love of God
The Royal Crown
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