Table of Contents Preface 1 Introduction 3 I. Foundations, Functions and Figures 9 What Is Sacred Music? 9 Music and Civilization 10 A Most Ancient Ritual 12 Musical Supervisors 13 Community and Liturgy 15 Sacred Time, Sacred Sound 16 Practical Functions of Synagogue Music 18 A Resonant World 19 Singing Metaphysics 20 Sanctification 22 Music as Language 23 Beauty in Sacred Song 24 Some Thoughts on "Traditional" Synagogue Music 26 Creating a Synagogue Musical Tradition 27 The Development of Jewish Music Traditions 29 Judging Synagogue Song 31 The Problems of Meaning 32 Conformity and Survival 34 Charismatic Tunes 36 Jewish Youth and Musical Change 38 Nusach Variations 39 Sacred Classics 41 Sing a New Song 43 Musical Layers 45 A Shir Koddesh 47 Instruments of Worship 48 Richard Dawkins and Synagogue Song 50 Darwin, Heschel, Music, and Marriage 53 Liturgical Hits 55 The Legacy of Jack Gottlieb 57 II. Spirituality, Emotions and Identity 59 Religion, Emotion and Music 59 The Divine Lover of Music 61 To Edify and Glorify 63 Six Songs in the Hebrew Bible 64 Music, Prayer and Concentration 66 An Instrument Divine 67 Singing Is Believing 69 From Heart to Heart 70 Moods, Modes and Musical Meaning 72 Mystery and Melody 73 Singing, Health and Prayer 74 Heart and Mind 76 Serving God with Joy 77 Niggunim and Augustine 79 Holy Noises 80 Songs Without Words 82 Hymns of Praise 83 Stereotyping Synagogue Sounds 84 Singing for Joy 86 Being the Music 87 Absolute Music, Absolute Worship 89 Fight Songs and Fighting Words 90 Musical Taste, Musical Fact 92 Ethnicity in Jewish Music 93 Historicism and Futurism 95 Music and the Mitzvah of Nostalgia 96 Musical Minhag 98 Identity and Memory 101 Performing Identity 103 Diversity and Balance 104 III. Holidays and Liturgy 107 Shabbat Singing 107 Music and the Moods of Shabbat 108 Opening Songs on Shabbat 109 Vayekhulu and the Renewal of Time 111 Reinterpretation Through Song 112 Thanksgiving Every Week 114 The Modern Origins of an "Ancient" Tune 115 Springtime and the Song of Songs 117 Song of Redemption 118 Sound of the Sea 120 Akdamut and the Power of Song 121 Songs of Renewal 123 Moses, Music and Eurocentrism 125 The Curious Case of Kol Nidrei 127 The Sound of Sincerity 128 Rejoicing in Torah 130 Songs of Victory and Light 131 The Maoz Tzur Melody: Sacred or Sinful? 132 Making Noise 134 Music, Midrash and Megillah 135 Tension and Release 137 Aleinu : Its Storied Past and Sacred Melodies 138 Adon Olam: Master of the World 141 The Myth of Ein Keloheinu 142 The Religious Roots of Hava Nagila 144 IV. Cantors, Choirs and Congregations 147 The Cantor at the Center of the World 147 Singing and Prophecy 148 Cantors and Levites 149 More Than a Voice 151 The Cantorial Ideal 152 The Cantor's Prayer 154 Cantors, Rabbis, Hitters and Pitchers 155 The Choir in Jewish History 157 The Music of Heaven on Earth 159 Unity, Participation and the Choral Experience 160 From Choir to Congregation 161 Why Congregations Sing 163 A Blended Sound 165 The Limits of Congregational Singing 167 Good and Friendly Music 168 Appendix: Jewish Music Research 171 Bibliography 183 Index 189.