"Ashir Shirim" Ancient Jewish Wedding song

I was able to find many versions of this song and also find the translation and the background.


This is the English translation:

"I will sing songs to God at the coming of the redeemer.This terrified,innocent,& fair daughter - hurry to redeem her now.  Elijah will come and she will be redeemed"


This melody of course sound very Eastern which makes sense.  I noticed the lowered second right away which made me want to place it in Phrygian mode, although I am sure that is not what they called it.    I have heard guitarists talk about improvising using what is called a "Jewish scale" and I suspect that this may be the same thing.


This song is a celebratory song used in weddings. Some researchers speculated that this melody could be as old as 500 B.C. and handed down orally over generations.


My favorite version of this song is this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lnmsN0mJek


I loved the ancient sound of the instruments and the vocal techniques that were used that I associate with middle Eastern music.


I also enjoyed this version.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLQrZlN5B_Y


 In every version of the this song that I found, it always started slowly emphasizing the melody and then sped up with more instruments added as the song went on.  I wonder if this is because there is evidence that this is the way the songs were performed, or if this is just a popular way to stretch out a short song into something longer.  Either way I liked it.  When the melody is sung or played slowly it sounds hauntingly beautiful.  As it speeds up, it sounds more celebratory like a dance.  


My knowledge of ancient Jewish weddings is that they were a really big deal and went on for days and they included great feasts and a lot of wine.   I can picture this song being sung and danced to at many of these great celebrations.