10. Influence of the Renaissance and Enlightenment

Question 1

R’ Leon of Modena

Answer 1

Was a Torah scholar and trained musician in Italy. He organized a shul choir based on harmony. People were apposed because song in shul had been prohibited since the churban, Beis Din of Venice said that its permitted.

Question 2

Shlomo Rossi

Answer 2

a. Composed, sang, and played violin for the Duke of Mantua
b. Composed and published collection of 33 musical compositions for synagogue services
c. Renaissance style music
d. 1630 -Rossi’s music forgotten after the Jews were driven from the city after a war; traditional tunes return with even more zeal

Question 3

What did Frankfurt’s Rabbi and chazzan, R’ Hertz Treves complain against?

Answer 3

He complained against the new movement for placing music above meaning and ignoring traditional tunes.

Question 4

Established choirs in the 1700s:

Answer 4

1. Included bass and soprano
2. Paid by congregation
3. In some communities, it choir was barely tolerated and one of the first things to be decreed against to get divine mercy in time of persecution

Question 5

What were the opinions of borrowing tunes from non-Jewish sources?

Answer 5

1. Chazzanim were accused of borrowing tunes from theater, dance hall or Catholic church
2. Rav Yoel Sirkes (the Bach) permitted borrowed tunes as long as they were not used in Christian services
3. Rav Yosef Hahn (Sefer Yosef Ometz) - strongly opposed borrowed tunes
4. Using secular tunes could take away from the Jewish sentiment of the traditional tunes

Question 6

Yisrael Meir Japhet

Answer 6

chazzan for the Orthodox congregation of Rabbi Shamshon Rifael Hirsch.
Published collections, emphasized value of traditional tunes, pposes Reform to introduce church tunes.
Mainly composed music for the introductory and concluding parts of the serves, since music during prayer is distracting.