Jewish Music Elementary
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PREMIUMPREMIUM TORAHTORAH COLLEGECOLLEGE PROGRAMSPROGRAMSTaTa l l Jewish Music Elementary February 2019 Elementary Jewish Music - Study Guide - The Jewish Music exam focuses on Jewish music, from Biblical times until the contemporary era. Students are expected to display knowledge of the history of Jewish music, understand the traditional relationship between music and religion, and identify different types of music, such as klezmer,chazzanus , Chassidic niggunim, Ladino folksong, Yiddush folksong, Israeli folk music, yeshivish music, and many more. The exam is based on the material found in the text, Jewish Music: An Orthodox Perspective, from Biblical Times to the Modern Era, which is accompanied by a CD of selected Jewish music. The exam includes three sections: I. Multiple Choice 30 multiple choice questions [33.3% of the grade] II. Short Answers 10 short-answer questions (from a choice of 13) [33.3% of the grade] III. Listening Questions 10 multiple choice questions [33.3% of the final grade] NOTE: Students are expected to provide answers that are based on the readings from the assigned text, even in cases where there may be an additional correct answer. This Study Guide is the property of TAL and MUST be returned after you take the exam. Failure to do so is an aveirah of gezel. JewishMusicElemSP v01 © 2019 by Torah Accreditation Liaison. All Rights Reserved. Elementary Jewish Music In this Study Guide you will find: • The syllabus with study questions on each section of the reader (page 4). • A sample exam (page 30). Please use the sample exam to familiarize yourself with the type of questions that will be asked. • Helpful hints for answering exam questions. To prepare for the examination, study from the TAL Reader: Jewish Music: An Orthodox Perspective, from Biblical Times to the Modern Era. You are expected to read through the entire TAL Reader and remember the main ideas and the names of the key people, but you are not responsible to know every detail. Exam questions will be drawn only from the information needed to answer the study questions listed below. (You will not be tested on any information found in the footnotes of the reader). Note: You are required to know the Hebrew names of the instruments referred to in the syllabus by their Hebrew names. JewishMusicElemSP v01 Page 3 of 35 © 2019 by Torah Accreditation Liaison. All Rights Reserved. Elementary Jewish Music Elementary Jewish Music — Syllabus — Introduction • What place does music have in avodas Hashem? PART 1: MUSIC IN THE PERIOD OF TANACH AND THE BEIS HAMIKDASH A. Music in Tanach • What are some of the purposes of music? 1. Sources in the Bible (Chumash) a. Yuval, the originator of music – the harp and flute • What instruments did Yuval invent? • For what reasons did he invent them? b. In the times of the Avos – celebrations • Where do we see in the Chumash that it was customary to have songs and music at celebrations? c. The song of the angels. • How do we know that the angels sing to Hashem in Heaven? d. Shirah – Divinely inspired songs of praise to Hashem • How many divinely inspired songs (shirah) will there be in the history of the world? • What are some examples of these shirah? • What is the defining quality of shirah? • In what manner was the song at the Yam Suf sung by Moshe and the people? JewishMusicElemSP v01 Page 4 of 35 © 2019 by Torah Accreditation Liaison. All Rights Reserved. Elementary Jewish Music • What musical instruments did the women play to accompany the shirah? • Is there a relationship between song and poetry? • Why is HaAzinu called a song? e. Music in the Mishkan • What musical instruments were attached to the Kohen Gadol’s me’il (robe)? f. Instruments of awe and for signaling – the shofar and trumpet • Where in the Torah do we see the shofar being sounded? • What does this indicate about the nature and purpose of the instrument? • What were the two silver trumpets used for in the desert? • In what situations did Hashem command the Jews to sound trumpets, and why? • Why is the sound of the shofar appropriate for the Days of Awe? 2. Sources in the Prophets and Writings (Nach) a. Celebrations • At what sort of occasions in the times of Nach was it customary to have songs, music and dancing? b. A means to attain prophecy • How did the prophets utilize music in their avodas Hashem, and why? • How did David HaMelech raise the spirits of Shaul HaMelech? c. Songs of praise to Hashem • What are some examples of the ten shirah in Nach? • According to the words of Sefer Tehillim, what role should song and music play in a person’s personal avodas Hashem? • What is Hallel? At what times is it sung? d. Special songs • Shir HaShirim: • Who wrote Shir HaShirim? • According to Rashi, what is it about? JewishMusicElemSP v01 Page 5 of 35 © 2019 by Torah Accreditation Liaison. All Rights Reserved. Elementary Jewish Music • Perek Shirah: • What is Perek Shirah? • Who was the author of Perek Shirah? 3. Musical instruments in Biblical Times a. String instruments • What was the difference between the design and sound of the kinor and the nevel? b. Wind instruments • What was the ugav? • In what situations was it used? • What is a shofar made from? What sounds does it produce? • What were trumpets used for? c. Percussion instruments • What are examples of percussion instruments that were used in Biblical times? • What was the tof? Who would play it and in what situations? d. Dance • What place did dance have in avodas Hashem in Biblical times? • What are some examples in Tanach where music is accompanied by dance? B. Music in the Beis HaMikdash 1. The song of the Levi’im in the Beis HaMikdash • What would the Levi’im sing as the daily korbanos were offered up? • How are these songs of the Levi’im remembered in the synagogue? • Was the essential part of the Levi’im’s song vocal or instrumental? • Were non-Levi’im allowed to sing in the Beis HaMikdash? • At what age could a Levi begin singing as part of the choir in the Beis HaMikdash, and until what age could he continue? • What was the minimum and maximum number of singers in the choir of Levi’im? JewishMusicElemSP v01 Page 6 of 35 © 2019 by Torah Accreditation Liaison. All Rights Reserved. Elementary Jewish Music • Why were boys allowed to be part of the choir? Why were they given the nickname tz’arei—pain causers? 2. The orchestra and musical instruments in the Beis HaMikdash • What was the minimum number of instruments played in the Beis HaMikdash — on non-festival days and on festival days? • What were the instruments? • Who would sound the trumpets? 3. The service in the Beis HaMikdash • What was the magrephah and what kind of sound did it produce? • At what point during the song of the Levi’im did the Kohanim sound the trumpets? • What was the style of music in the Beis HaMikdash? 4. The influence of the music of the Beis HaMikdash on the rest of the nation • Did the music in the Beis HaMikdash influence the music of the people? C. The Style of Music in Ancient Israel • What is folk music? • What is distinctive about Jewish folk music? 1. Monophony • Was the music in the Beis HaMidkash and in Biblical times in general monophonic or polyphonic? 2. Antiphony • How did Moshe and the Jews sing shirah at the Yam Suf? • How would an adult shaliach tzibur (prayer leader) say Hallel on behalf of a congregation that did not know the words, and how would the congregation respond? • How would a child shaliach tzibur say Hallel on behalf of a congregation that did not know the words, and how would the congregation respond? JewishMusicElemSP v01 Page 7 of 35 © 2019 by Torah Accreditation Liaison. All Rights Reserved. Elementary Jewish Music D. Cantillation (Te’amim) • By what names are the cantillation symbols generally known? • What is their purpose, and why is it appropriate that they are called te’amim? 1. The origin of the te’amim • What is the origin of the te’amim? • How was knowledge of the te’amim passed down from one generation to the next? 2. The punctuation system • Where and when was the present day system for recording the te’amim developed? 3. Traditional melodies • Do different communities have the same melodies for the te’amim? Ashkenazi melodies • What are some of the general melodies of the te’amim according to the Ashkenazi tradition? E. The Shaliach Tzibur • Why did the Anshei Knesses HaGedolah institute the Shemoneh Esrei? • Why did it become necessary to have a shaliach tzibur? • Why is it important that the shaliach tzibur be a righteous individual? The voice of the shaliach tzibur • Why is it important for a shaliach tzibur to have a melodious voice? • What is the essential quality of a shaliach tzibur – that he be righteous or have a melodious voice? • Is it permissible for a shaliach tzibur who has a nice voice to lengthen the prayer service? JewishMusicElemSP v01 Page 8 of 35 © 2019 by Torah Accreditation Liaison. All Rights Reserved. Elementary Jewish Music PART 2: SYNAGOGUE MUSIC FROM THE DESTRUCTION OF THE BEIS HAMIKDASH UNTIL THE 1900S A. The Prohibition Against Music • Why were limitations placed on music in secular settings (like wine houses) following the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash? • What made the tanna Elisha Ben Avuyah lose his faith? • What was the attitude of the early rabbis toward Greek music? 1. Music that enhances a mitzvah • At what celebrations is music permitted? Can wine be served? • What kind of songs is it permissible to sing? Can wine be served? • According to the minhag in Jerusalem, what music is played at weddings? 2.