A little something from the 15th and 13th Centuries
(Listen, we've been around for a while, okay?) "Ma'oz Tzur," from the simple (sung by Theodore Bikel with guitar)... Video posted by Theodore Bikel - Topic ...to the sublime (played by the Israel Philharmonic, Zubin Mehta conducting): Video posted by IsraelMusicHistory2 *** I wrote about "Ma'oz Tzur" at greater length last year , and of course you can read about it there , but in case that seems like too much work just now: This melody for "Ma'oz Tzur" (also sometimes known as "Rock of Ages") is thought to date back to a 15th Century German folk song , with some alterations over the centuries and variations from region to region, as one would expect. Unfortunately, none of the alterations have made it easier to sing. The lyrics are believed to have been written during the 13th Century --hence the post title!--and each stanza is about a separate occasion during which the Jews were miraculously saved from destruction (...