Musical Treasures from Jewish Iraq

Musical Treasures from Jewish Iraq

Date

Dec 03 2017
, 11AM- 3PM

Sunday December 3, 2017

11 am perfect for younger children

2 pm perfect for everyone

Performer Rabbi Haim Ovadia, Magen David Sephardic Synagogue

Musical Treasures from Jewish Iraq

Jews lived in Babylonia for more than 2,500 years, and their musical tradition is said to have roots in the melodies of the Levites in the Temple. The rich trove of Jewish Iraqi liturgy ranges from biblical texts sung to ancient melodies reflecting the sorrow of the exiles after the Temple’s destruction, to modern lyrics conveying hope of redemption.

There were songs for every occasion and holiday, for the birth of a boy or a girl, for a bride and groom, and for pilgrimage. There was also cross-fertilization as Jewish and Arab musicians played and sang together. Jewish Iraqi music included sacred and secular texts written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Arabic, and melodies influenced by Turkish and Kurdish music. The presentation will introduce the listeners to some samples of this rich musical tapestry.

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