Intermountain Jewish news., 1926-10-28
JEWISH CONTRIBUTIONS
TO THE WORLDS MUSIC
More Than One.Thrd of Worlds Composers and later.
prefers Were Jewish
y TnELMA NURENsEao

In outlining n general history OF
music. the different authors have recog-
nizcd the fact thnt the Greeks and the
Hebrews were the first nations 10 foster
a spirit for the cultivation and develop
mcnt OF that branch of art Music to
the Greek served as another channel to
which his sensuous nature found an
other outlet. Bur IL remained for the
Hebrews to assinilate II in another
manner. Music to Israel was spiritual
and therefore divine, md so II was
Incorporated into his religious serviceA
Therefore the history Of music In con.
nection with religious services owes It's
origin to the Synagogue.
Although music to the Jews was holy,
1t was not entirely confined to the four
walls Of the Synagogue. Some OF the
ancient songs, the songs OF Miriam, OF
Deborah, the songs that marked the
end Of each season. and the different
little ditties, have come down as a
proof that every phase Of life found
expression in song. At that time there
was no means by which their melody
could bc recorded and so the chant
alone, the primitive foundation OF He
hrpw sacred music, By virtueof its con-
nection with the recltina Of prayers
and The Holy Scripture, was passed
orally from generation to geaerntion.
Influence on Church
Christianity in the early stage Of
Crganizatioh. took from the Hebrews,
through the Hebrew converts, their
religious chants, and their antiphonal
manner of song. They also adopted to
n certain extent, the Hebrew manner
of conducting services. But the adop-
tion Of Instrumental music was at first
strongly objected 10 because OF its lie.
brew origin; but they finally included
1t In their services.
Israel, in mourning for the dcstruc-
ticn uf he Temple, dccrccd, that the
voices of Instruments In connection
with services should be silcnced for
ever. ~'t.s
Synagogue Music
With the development Of Christianity
and the subsequent dispersion and per-
secntion Of the Jews. music gradually
became more confined to the church and
to the Synagogue. With the establish
mcnt of Rome as the religious seat OF
Christianity, came the establishment of
the first music school orsanized by the
church In $50. Religious music was
given every opportunity to develop and
every innovation upon the then exist
ing system Of theory was. brought into
existence hy members of the Christian
faith. The Jew. dispersed over the
face OF the earth. with sword con-
stantly hanging over him could offer
very little to the world In the realm of
music. Rather, nothing was expected
or accepted from them.
MediaevaI Progress
Notwithstanding the many schools Of
music that had arisen or the vast num-
Der of theories that had been advanced.
the rate Of musical progress during the
first ten or twelve centuries was very
slow. In the early part Of the twelfth
century, in southeastern part of
France. originated the secular move
mcnt. These Troubadours, later fol
lowed by the Trouvencs in northeastern
France. generated widespread awak-
ening of secular music throughout
France, England, Spain ind ltafy. \
similar group. called the Minncsingcrs
and the Mcistersingcrs, originated in
Germany about the same time, These
groups were of poetic and musical
nature and involved in the composition