Hebrew Music

All through the history of the Hebrew people, the subject of Hebrew music finds a frequent mention. In fact the Hebrew history talks about the subject of music much more extensively than does the history of any other culture or any other people.



The importance that has been accorded to music in the Hebrew culture is all the more evident through the existence and development of a large range of professional musicians in the Hebrew music culture: fixed scales, tunes, rhythms, etc.

Under King David, an astounding number of 4000 people out of 38,000 Levites were appointed as musicians. And on the other hand, Flavius Josephus claims that there are an approximate number of 500,000 musicians in Palestine. This is quite obviously an exaggerated claim; nevertheless it does serve to indicate the importance that Hebrew music held under the old regime of the Hebrew culture.

The singing of the Book of Esther enjoyed a very low significance for the Hebrews the world over initially. It was originally a fairly simple system of tunes. But then it was gradually greatly enriched by the strong tendency that was predominant amongst the Ashkenazic Jews to accumulate the popular tunes of the culture or country or peoples amongst whom they lived, and then to incorporate these popular tunes into the hebrew synagogal cantillation so that they eventually and gradually became part of the Hebrew music tradition.

Over a period of time the relevance of the chazzan also became very important to the Hebrew music. A chazzan was one who had a tenorized baritone voice coupled with the ability to use it effectively, and also a large and attractive repertory of cantillation.

To become a successful chazzan was a sure way for one to enjoy a high reputation and was also responsible for a position of standing in the community.

Cantillation is an ancient form of Hebrew music which is in still followed in many Hebrew homes on the first two nights of the Passover. The Passover marks the occasion for the Hebrews when the story of the redemption from Egypt is sung from the Haggadah, which is the book of prayers, and songs that is followed for these two nights specifically.

The master of the house performs the cantillation and the rest of the family also participates.