MUSIC OF ISRAEL

LESSON 3:
THIRD QUARTER
MUSIC 8
 Capital – Jerusalem
Largest city – Jerusalem
Religion: Judaism

Israel - Meaning. 'God Contended', 'Wrestles

with God', 'Triumphant with God'

(Genesis 32:22–32)
❖ The music of West Asia is modal.

❖ Harmony is not emphasized but

rather includes salient features
such as melodic complexity and
ornamentation.
Communal worship (in Mosque,
Synagogue and Church)
Mystic rituals (Sufis, Hasidic)
• Hasidic – Jewish devotional
tradition. Simple faith and a
prayer that comes from the
heart is more important than
intellectual brilliance.
Life passage events (weddings, Bar
Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah and Anniversaries)
• Bar Mitzvah – ceremonial event for a
Jewish boy 13 years of age, when he
becomes a full pledged member of
religious community.
• Bat Mitzvah – same as Bar Mitzvah,
but for girl and occurring at the age of
12 not 13.
Entertainment
(belly dancing, folk dancing)
❖ Israel singers have a distinctive vocal
style.

❖ They sing with guttural and throaty

enunciation.
Guttural – harsh and grating speech
sounds made in the throat.
1. Devotional
• Almost entirely vocal.
• Featured during Sabbath and other holy days.
(Rosh Hashanah, Passover, Yom Kippur)
• The art of Hazan (leader of prayer in
Synagogue) has always been evident in the
culture.
• Shofar – a special call for prayer and
repentance. It is sounded on the high holidays.

Sabbath – a Jewish holy day of rest occurring once a week. Beginning at

sundown of Friday and ending Saturday at nightfall.
2. Secular
• Instruments and voice are used.
• Played during life passage events.
• Secular means “separate from
religion”
• Very rhythmic and popular and
romantic texts.
“Zum Gali Gali”
❖is a traditional Hebrew song
relating to the formation of the
State of Israel, originating
sometime around its creation in
1948.
❖The pioneers referred to in the
song were the Jewish settlers
who built the new Israel.
Hora – a dance that often has a
strong off beats and asymmetric
meters; uses accompaniment
• Lute (similar to Philippine
Banduria)
• Laud (similar to Indian sitar)
• Darbuk (goblet drum)
FIN