Nigun

A nigun (Hebrew: ניגון meaning "tune" or "melody", plural nigunim) or niggun (plural niggunim) is a form of Ashkenazi religious song or tune sung by groups. It is vocal music, often with repetitive sounds such as "Bim-Bim-Bam", "Lai-Lai-Lai", "Yai-Yai-Yai" or "Ai-Ai-Ai" instead of formal lyrics. Sometimes, it is defined as a mysterious musical form of prayer or a spiritual language beyond regular words.^[1] Also, Bible verses or quotes from other classical Jewish texts are sometimes sung repetitively to form a nigun. Some nigunim are sung as prayers of lament, while others may be joyous or victorious.^[2]^[3]

^ "The Nigun". My Jewish Learning. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
^ Haida Archived 1999-10-07 at the Wayback Machine Touchstone Sacred Dance Library, Accessed February 2014.
^ Music In Kaballah, The Nigun's Influence on the Soul From the book Shirat HaLev (The Song of the Heart) by Shmuel Stern – Translated by Gita Levi. Accessed February 2014.

[1] "The Nigun". My Jewish Learning. Retrieved 2024-10-23.

[2] Haida Archived 1999-10-07 at the Wayback Machine Touchstone Sacred Dance Library, Accessed February 2014.

[3] Music In Kaballah, The Nigun's Influence on the Soul From the book Shirat HaLev (The Song of the Heart) by Shmuel Stern – Translated by Gita Levi. Accessed February 2014.

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