Cantors Assembly puts the Journal of Synagogue Music online

If you're a Jewish music nerd like me, this is big news. The Cantors Assembly, which is affiliated with the Conservative movement, has put their Journal of Synagogue Music and Conference Proceedings online in downloadable .pdf form. The Journal has annual issues dating back to 1967 and the conference proceedings go back to 1947! There is some seriously good scholarship in these pages, some of which is still highly relevant and some of which makes a wonderful time capsule of changing ideas about Jewish music.

As Samuel Rosenbaum says in the intro to his 1982 essay collection Words About Music, which is also included

Music plays a unique role in the life of the Jew. Certainly, it enhances life; but it is far more than that. We study, pray, celebrate and mourn in the language of music. It is a part of life's fabric. In many cases it is the fabric itself.

Ain't that the truth.

It's fitting that I found out about this today. I'm on my way to a Cantors concert featuring Cantors Alberto Mizrahi, Meir Finklestein, David Propis, Simon Spiro, Rebecca Carmi and Daniel Gross, among others.

Here's a video of Cantor Meir Finklestein to get me in the mood.

Ledor Vador - Meir Finkelstein & Udi Spielman