Early Modern Jewish Choral Liturgical Music: A Practice in Formation

• In Event: The Study of Early-Modern Jewish Musics: Mapping the Field (I)

Abstract

Jewish liturgical manuscripts from the Eduard Birnbaum Collection in the Klau Library of Hebrew Union College-- Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, show an interesting history of secular musical influence. In Germany, Italy, and France the manuscripts show a variety of musical styles from 1770-1820. Building upon Idelsohn’s work from his Thesaurus of Hebrew and Oriental Melodies vols. 6 and 7 (1922) and in Jewish Music in Its Historical Development (1929), I will show the late Baroque and Early Classical style in the practice of the meshorerim, and early approaches to choral music. I will show how Israel Lovy brought the South German tradition to Paris and adapted to develop an early Parisian style that was further developed by Samuel Naumbourg. The liturgical music history of this period shows engagement with European musical styles and the formation of a practice that was further developed.

Author

• Mark Kligman, University of California, Los Angeles