Niggun L'chatchila Ariber

Niggun L'chatchila Ariber (named as such by the Rebbe, or alternatively The Niggun of the Rebbe Maharash, known in Yiddish as Dem Rebbi'ns Maharash Niggun) is a niggun composed by the Rebbe Maharash. It was dear to him and he would sing it regularly on various occasions: Shabbos Kodesh, Yomim Tovim, and Yoma D'Pagra. It is also sung at many of the Rebbe's farbrengens — with the exception of the Rebbe Maharash's birthday (2 Iyar) and yahrtzeit (13 Tishrei), as well as when the nigunim of the Chabad Rebbeim are sung in order.

The Name of the Niggun

Main article: L'chatchila Ariber

Originally the niggun was known as Dem Rebbi'ns Maharash Niggun — "the Rebbe Maharash's Niggun" — or as Niggun Deveikus L'Rabbi HaMahaRash — "the Niggun of Deveikus of the Rebbe Maharash."

In the most recent generation it became known as "L'chatchila Ariber" — a name taken from the Rebbe Maharash's famous saying L'chatchila Ariber. Some suggest that the content of the saying is actually expressed in the movements of the niggun itself.

The niggun is also known as "Niggun Eins Tzvei Drai Fir" — "Niggun One Two Three Four" — because the notes of the second section follow four consistent identical beats. An additional name for the niggun is "Niggun Ain Sof" — "the Infinite Niggun."

Regarding this niggun it is told: at the end of the sefer Hon Ashir — by the author of Mishnas Chassidim — there is a melody written in musical notation. The Rebbe Maharash read it, and said that the notated melody aroused within him a niggun — whereupon he sang this niggun.

This niggun is niggun 180 in Sefer HaNigunim, and was recorded from the mouths of the elder chassidim.

With the Rebbe

The Rebbe learned this niggun from his grandfather, Rabbi Meir Shlomo HaLevi Yanovsky, who had a great sensitivity for music and was among those who sat regularly in the presence of the Rebbe Maharash himself.

There are a number of recordings in which the Rebbe can be heard singing the niggun. Several subtle but consistent differences can be discerned between the version in Sefer HaNigunim and the Rebbe's version — including a consistent variation in the first section of the niggun.

When the Niggun Was Sung

At the Rebbe's farbrengens when the nigunim of the Rebbeim were sung in order, this niggun came in its turn for the Rebbe Maharash. In addition, the niggun was sung at farbrengens on 2 Iyar — the Rebbe Maharash's birthday — and on 13 Tishrei — his yahrtzeit — as well as on additional dates that the Rebbe associated with the theme of "L'chatchila Ariber."

In the niggun as written in musical notation, the "Ain Sof" movement repeats twice. A special innovation that the Rebbe introduced: at times he would signal with movements of his head to repeat this movement again and again. It appears that the number of repetitions was not random — not simply "until your lips wear out" — but a deliberate number. Often this movement was repeated ten times, and in one recording the Rebbe's resonant voice can be heard repeating the movement twenty times in succession, followed by a second full rendition of the entire niggun from the beginning — an additional ten times.

The Sections of the Niggun

The First Section

The movement of "L'chatchila Ariber" — leaping over all obstacles and impediments — is immediately evident in the niggun's opening, in a sudden upward leap. This is in contrast to other Chabad nigunim in which the ascent is steady and gradual. One may say that the approach of the Rebbe Maharash embodied in his saying "L'chatchila Ariber" is expressed in this very opening.

The Second Section

The name "Eins Tzvei Drai Fir" — "One Two Three Four" — refers to the "square" phrases, each consisting of four identical consecutive beats. This musical "squareness" expresses limitation — the framework of creation, the ordered progression of the spiritual worlds. This consistent beat is the lowest note in the niggun's scale, expressing the very "bottom" of the niggun — the same bottom from which the opening section leaped and broke free.

The Third Section

By contrast, the name "Ain Sof" — "Infinite" — befits the niggun's climax in its highest registers, which repeat again and again. In this movement one can remain without end. It is a movement that runs counter to the movement of limitation — a movement that transcends the ordered progression of the worlds.

See Also

• L'chatchila Ariber

External Links

• Rabbi Lev Leibman, Niggun L'chatchila Ariber — Kir HaNigunim
• Yechiel Sofer, The Remarkable Story of the Source of the Niggun L'chatchila Ariber — Beis Moshiach Weekly

Listen to various performances

• The Rebbe  •  Heichal HaNeginah  •  Dovid Horowitz  •  Nichoach #2

Video

• Benny Friedman and the Kapelye in a moving performance of Niggun L'chatchila Ariber
• Chassidim singing the niggun with the Rebbe
• The Rebbe singing Niggun L'chatchila Ariber