The Importance of Music in the Life and Traditions of Jews

It is not possible to undermine the significance of music in the life and traditions of Jews. This becomes increasingly apparent after looking at the bible to see the indications of the importance of the Levites as makers of music and large orchestras. After the 2nd Temple was destroyed during 70 CE, Rabbis banned making of music in the synagogue. The only music that survived was instrumental, and it survived only because of the fact that song and merry- making was required in weddings (Shepherd 1). Jewish music originated from ancient chants of prayer of the Levant about 3000 years ago. The musical ideology that resulted and that can be found in the bible today is among the most ancient forms of music, notated, although it is still in current use all over the globe today. Jewish music has been adapting often to new conditions, but it retains its identity in numerous broadly differing social, ethnic and religious environments (Shiloah 3).

Through its resulting religions, Judaism music is among the most fundamental elements in the undertaking of the secular and sacred traditions of the Near East and Europe, first having affected, and then having been affected by the music of Islamic cultures and music of Christian cultures. As it follows, the study of Jewish music has to do with numerous genres of semi religious, religious and folk music used in the Jewish home and synagogue and art music utilized in Jewish themes and texts. Therefore, the study of the tradition of Jewish music combines distinctively with the critical elements of ethnomusicology, musicology and interculturalism. In the modern world, Jewish music encompasses a broad diversity of Jewish traditions of music and Jewish songs are performed and sung in numerous differen...

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... change (Parshall 76- 78).

Among the main changes that have taken place since the reemergence of the Klezmer music as a critical musical genre of the Jews are general trends towards more pronounced rhythms and faster tempos. When it comes to performances in concerts and the absence of numerous experienced dancers, bands playing Klezmer music have come up with faster songs to show their virtuosity without fear of tiring the audiences. This trend has been somewhat reversed through the attempts of researchers oriented towards tradition and committed dance instructors and dancers. However, in some modern professional performances, and certainly in the ancient recordings of the revival of the Klezmer music, this acceleration contributes to a frenetic energy that the audiences accustomed to bluegrass, bebop and rock and roll understand and appreciate (Parshall 76- 78).