New-York tribune., 1908-04-05

mon. Moreover. IN one Of the Talmudic tracts Ve
have a description Of an instrument lhagrsphGJ
obviously Of the organ kind. One explanation OF
tho absence Of instruments in modern synagogues
is based on fact that the ancient outfit vas so
gorgeous All pious Jews. it - argued, hope for
the restoration Of Jerusalem and its Temple mean
while. scattered in exile through many lands II
is not meet that the race pretend - initiate the
spIendor OF the Temple service instituted BY
Solomon. Where choirs have been introduced IN
orthodox synagogues ii has been Of comparatively
recent date-say. within fifty years or 80. These
choirs are deve Iopment from older institution
Some time in the long ago il became a practice 10
have TWO men lHershor0rsur1J stand on either side
O.. the chasan 10 assist him IN case OF need ana
also to correct him should he read Incorrectly. n
the performance Of the first function they suggest
Aaron and F4ur holding Up the hands OF Moses
while Joshua cverczrne AmaIek. the second flnc-
ton seems 10 point apprehensOns growing out
OF decay of knowledge concerning the ancient
language in which the scrolls are written. Pc
Eaos too. this explains the use OF pointer VltH
which 10 follow the words read These tNo as
sistants or the chasau led the congregation in the
responses. and as the desire for beauty Of utter
a1Ce grew It became the custom 70 select them
fo- the sake of the quality Of their voices There
vas but q single step from this arrangement 10 a
choir OF boys and men, for whom place vas MAJ
bs Cz Of the rabbi and chasau on the platform IN
'front.' Of tire ark Quilt against the Eastern vaIp IN
which the scrolls kept This platform fAteH'-
mar occupies suace between the two sections of
pews which arc arranged I0nsitudtnaIly. znsteaI
Of trausverseIy, as IN Christian churches In syna-
Eogues where the congregation still chants he re-
sponses the worshippers wear Oriental prayer
scarfs thrown across the shoulders the bacA the
erds hanging in frcnt through the elbows.
Last Sundays concert was announced on the pro
-rannle as d Sacred Concert OF Ancient Hebrew
Music" OF course his TO be read as referring
only TO the traditional melodies used by the com
posers The tunes associated with the Psalms and
some Of the ancient hy yns and prayers used in the
synag0gaI service have greatly exercised the minds
Of Hebrew autquaries. II would be a JOY to many
a pious soul ana d satisfaction many another
filed with for archaic things 10 believe that
in them there may be relics Of the temple service
at Jerusalem. But there is no PROOF that any Of
them are over $50 years old Three centuries ago
-ne Hebrews in spain sang hymns and prayers TO
Spanish love songs b.ithely as the people OF
Shakespeare day IN England sang Psalms 70
hornpipes.' A few Years ago Emil Bres.aur, himself
d synag0gaI musician delivered d lecture IN Berlin
in which he denied II possible 10 prove
hat any genuine Hebrew folk tunes existed His
contention may be true. but his arguments We're
srrauseIv incouclusive. They We're AL based on the
fact that modern composers ne among them. have
been able 10 write melodies which sound Ike the
traditional tunes OF the Jews oy following in
tervajIlc pecuI!arities which mark Oriental music.
The frequsncv OF the interval called the augmented
second, aiming three semi -oues} and the super
abundance os ernbellshuant characteristic OF Hun
yariau music. IS vel III the traditional Hebrew
me odes led him TO the strange conclusion that the
r-tre are E,Dsv products. Breslau- does not spare
even the famous -KoI nidre" supposedly the oldest
as II IS one Of the most striking of the traditional
-yrTnnz- Of the Jews. Throughout the world. in the
Io- Hest of the Reformed Temples and the mum
i3lest of the syuaEogues. this hyun arises the
Day of Alonement-