Opening Drawers | Cantorial Music Comes to Light

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Monday, November 23rd, 16:00

Cantorial Music Comes to Light

Celebrating the Publication of Nosah LaHazan vol. III

From the Yehoshua Leib Ne'eman Archive

Cantor Yehoshua Leib Ne'eman, one of the leading figures in the teaching of Ashkenazi cantorial music in the twentieth century, sought to document the musical tradition of Eastern European Jewish prayer in his book Nosach LaHazan, intended as a teaching resource for cantors and their students. To this end, he developed a unique system of musical notation that allows for rhythmic flexibility in accordance with the natural cadence of the Hebrew words. More than fifty years have passed since the publication of the first two volumes, dedicated to the Sabbath and High Holy Day services.

Ne'eman did not live to publish the third volume, dedicated to the weekday services and the Three Pilgrimage Festivals. The complete, print-ready manuscript was preserved in his archive at the National Library of Israel. Now, for the first time, it is being published, bringing the series to completion.

At this event, we will discover Ne'eman as a cantor and teacher, and hear his voice. We will learn about his archive, the discovery of the manuscript, and the process that led to its publication, preserving in written form a rich and longstanding musical tradition.

Participants:

Professor Emeritus Cantor Eliyahu Schleifer, Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion

Dr. Amalia Kedem, Curator of the Music Collection, National Library of Israel

Cantor Yossi Zucker, Director of Or-Tav Publishing

Representatives of the Ne'eman family

Before and after the event, visitors are invited to view a display of items from the Yehoshua Leib Ne'eman Archive.

Location: The Ilona and Hillel Zvi Lowy Special Collections Exhibition Room, Level -3

First viewing session: 3:15–4:00 p.m.

Second viewing session: 5:00–5:30 p.m.