Questions tagged [music]
For questions relating to music and song.
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Does anyone know the nusach for אפפוני חבלי מות that is sung in the movie Simon Magus?
I haven't seen the whole movie Simon Magus. It depicts 19th-century Poland. I saw a scene where a Pesach Seder is held. They're saying Hallel and I've never heard that melody for Psalm 116. They start ...
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Listening to traditional Jewish song/prayer sung by Christian [duplicate]
Is there a prohibition against listening to a song (יה שמע אביוניך) sung by a Christian (who is Jewish by birth)? The lyrics are the original as written by Rav Yehuda Halevi. Is there a risk of avodah ...
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Why did David’s harp playing relieve King Saul's illness?
David's harp playing brought relief to King Saul from his mental illness. (Source: I Samuel 16.)
Why did the harp playing provide relief?
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Source for a Pesach niggun
I heard a niggun for ma nishtana this year (my recording here) that goes "ma-a-a nish-ta-na ha-a-a-a-layla ha-la-ayla-a-a-ha-ze" that apparently might be from somewhere in Poland and was on ...
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Missing Traditional Half-Kaddish Melodies
In his article "How Music Articulates Liturgical Structure, Meaning, and Perception: The Kaddish" published in the recent volume of the Journal of Synagogue Music (vol. 47 no. 1), Dr. Boaz ...
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Was music considered to be a part of forbidden Greek philosophy?
Starting with Pythagoras (c.500BCE) and Plato (c.400BCE) music was considered wisdom and as such, an integral part of Greek philosophy (see "Music of ancient Greece and philosophy WIKI").
On ...
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What Talmudic sages played musical instruments?
What sages of the Talmud mentioned playing or knowing to play various musical instruments?
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What is the perception of Dance in Judaism?
What is the perception on dance (of any kind) from the perspective of Judaism? or there are some kind of restrictions?
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Why is Music not allowed at Jewish Funerals?
When my mother died several decades ago, a childhood friend and I performed her favorite Yiddish song, "Dona Dona," at her funeral. Being raised in non-observant families we were surprised ...
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Is there a book that traces the musical development of Jewish liturgy?
Over the last several weeks, at the recommendation of someone on here, I've been studying Jewish Liturgy: A Comprehensive History by Ismar Elbogen. It is a modern (early Twentieth Century) academic ...
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What constitutes an "instrument" for the purposes of Sefira and the Three Weeks?
Questions somewhat similar to this have been asked before, but I admit to still being unsure.
Throughout the last three weeks I have been listening to a capella music only, as per the Three Weeks, ...
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Sad music during Omer/3 Weeks
Thought of this question and apparently it was posed a few years ago on here but no answer was given so I’ll ask again- can you listen to sad or depressing music during the Omer or more importantly ...
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Tune for Travels in Parshas Maasei [duplicate]
In parshas Maasei, many have the minhag to do a tune for the travels at the beginning of the Parsha (Perek 33). Is anyone aware of a source or reason for this minhag?
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Is listening to music composed for avodah zara assur in all contexts?
I read that R' Yisrael Moshe Hazan, the former chief Rabbi of Rome allowed for church tunes to be incorporated into nigunim for his community, and as a result many of the niggunim used ...
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Halacha Regarding Entering a Church
It would be very much appreciated if someone can provide some sources that permit a Jew to enter a church premises (not the actual sanctuary). I've signed up for a classical guitar festival that's in ...
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Is it lacking tzniuth to be a street musician as a male?
Is playing music in public as a Street musician in any way a lack in tzniuth. Are there different opinions on the matter?
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Is it Mutar to Listen to Music Recorded in a Church?
I read somewhere that listening to music recorded in a church is asur, because it essentially brings the church into one's home. This is common practice for classical music. Has anyone heard of or not ...
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Sources Allowing Listening to Christian Music?
I read Igros Moshe forbids listening to music with idolatrous intent. What are some sources, if any, that allow listening to, or playing/performing Christian classical music, such as Bach's or Handel'...
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Can't find this song [closed]
I can't seem to find this song that I once heard. It was based on Shir Hashirim 7:1.
The lyrics were:
שׁ֤וּבִי שׁ֙וּבִי֙ הַשּׁ֣וּלַמִּ֔ית שׁ֥וּבִי שׁ֖וּבִי וְנֶחֱזֶה־בָּ֑ךְ מַֽה־תֶּחֱזוּ֙ בַּשּׁ֣וּלַמִּ֔ית כִּמְחֹלַ֖ת ...
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Sources on the spiritual influence of music?
I'm looking for sources for the ideas that either a singer, composer or style of music can infuse a spiritual influence in a song, which would then influence the listener.
The only sources that I am ...
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How do you define Jewish music?
I am a music teacher and many students request that I teach either Jewish music or classsical music.
What makes classical music appropriate ? What is considered Jewish music ?
Many famous chassidic ...
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May a girl/women receive voice lessons by a male instructor?
Private one-on-one lessons, not group lessons.
All Halachos of Yichud and Shomer Negiah are being kept to, so I guess the main question that remains is regarding the live Kol Isha (which is being ...
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Is there any source for Rosh Hashana Evening Kiddush Nusah Melody (Sfard/ Ashkenazi) [duplicate]
Is there any recorded resource for traditional Ashkenazi Rosh Hashana melody for Evening Kiddush Melody (Nusah) (Sfard/ Ashkenazi)?
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Why the rarest musical notes (Teamim) are located at the same verse in the Torah?
What is the reason that stand behind the fact that the rarest musical notes (Teamim) in the Torah are located in the same verse? What is so special in this specific verse to be chosen for those ...
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Music and Judaism
Judaism is really fascinating and the more I learn about it the more I love it ! I came up with a question because I was born Jewish but I grew up Christian and believed that music is sometimes bad . ...
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May one listen to Mozart's The Magic Flute?
The Magic Flute is a famous opera by Mozart. Its lyrics can be found here.
It seems to be completely secular to me. It includes lyrics that include characters talking to pagan gods, but Mozart himself ...
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Is it acceptable to translate ‘hallelu’ and 'yah' into the English expression "Praise the Lord"
My understanding is that Hallelujah (or Alleluia) is a compound word from the Hebrew ‘hallelu’, meaning “to praise joyously,” and ‘yah’, a shortened form of the unspoken name of G-d. It is an active ...
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May one play music for a baby during the Omer?
2-year-olds love to listen to recorded nursery rhymes. Are there any sources discussing playing nursery rhymes that include background music during the omer?
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A question on reciting the Veshamru
The Torah says:
וְשָׁמְר֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶת־הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת לַעֲשׂ֧וֹת אֶת־הַשַּׁבָּ֛ת לְדֹרֹתָ֖ם בְּרִ֥ית עוֹלָֽם׃
בֵּינִ֗י וּבֵין֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל א֥וֹת הִ֖וא לְעֹלָ֑ם כִּי־שֵׁ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֗ים ...
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What is the source of the prohibition to listen to music in the omer?
Where is the earliest source of the prohibition to listen to music in the omer?
I have had a look in shulchan oruch orach chaim simon תצ״ג, but it does not say there the prohibition to listen to music....
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Why do kohanim always chant in a terrible monotone? [duplicate]
I am not sure if it is just me, but it seems that there is never a melodious chanting of birchas kohanim, but rather is always a mixture of many toneless voices, as if they are tone-deaf. Is this for ...
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Music at a Wedding
Someone told me that there is a requirement to have music at a wedding. He said that the Mishna Brurah says if one side does not want to pay for the music the other side can force them to pay for it. ...
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Why do we recite Psalm 150 every day?
Psalm 150 says:
Praise the Lord with the trumpet, psaltery, harp, timbrel, stringed instruments, organs, loud cymbals and high-sounding cymbals.
We haven't used musical instruments in worship since ...
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What religious music would have been sung in Israel after the time of David and Solomon?
I'm almost afraid to ask this question here for fear of being shot down in flames because I'm not Jewish. However, nothing ventured, etc.....
I understand that many of the Psalms were put to music ...
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Why not use the Yamim Nora’im tune when reading the Torah at Yom Kippur mincha?
Many (all?) Ashkenazi communities have a different and distinctive tune used for keriat hatorah on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur morning (and in some communities also on Hoshana Rabbah and Simchat ...
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Composing religious songs and melodies on Shabbos [duplicate]
"Shiru laHashem shir chadash..."
"Mizmor shir leYom haShabbat"
Recently on Shabbat I put together some notes in a pleasing order, and used it as a zemer at our table. A guest was concerned that I was ...
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Non Jews in Shul choirs?
What is the Halacha and the Minhag regarding Non-Jews in Shul choirs at religious services led by a Cantor?
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Why no music and singing during daily prayer?
Throughout the (morning) prayers a large amount of passages speak about praising and singing to the Lord.
"Shiru lo, zamru lo..."
"Nihalelicha... Bishvachos Uvizimiros..."
".....
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Source of Baruch SheAmar melody
In my old shul, we used to sing a version of baruch she'amar that, to my understanding, was a fairly standard, traditional version. however, I've tried to find it recently and can't. I've transcribed ...
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Learning music theory during the Three Weeks?
Would learning about music be allowed, if not actually playing an instrument? Would I also need to not listen to instrumental audio?
Or is that still itself an activity that could be considered ...
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Are computer-generated vocals permissible during Sefirah and the Three Weeks?
According to those traditions which prohibit music during the Three Weeks and parts of Sefirah, but permit a capella, would listening to computer-generated vocals be permissible during Sefirah? Is the ...
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What is halachically considered an instrument for the purposes of Sefirah and the Three Weeks?
It's commonly practiced to avoid music during at least part of Sefirah and the entirety of the Three Weeks. Many of those who hold of this stringency also hold that certain types of a capella are ...
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Breaking an Omer restriction
In a hypothetical case, I have chosen to observe the restrictions of the Omer during the "first half."
But then, I am placed in a situation at which happy live music is being played. Does my presence ...
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Music during sefirah and "exemptions" [duplicate]
There's a common custom that people do not listen to music during 33 days of the Omer. There are also two customs as to when these days begin:
From the 2nd day of Pesach until Lag Ba'omer
or
From ...
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Are the musical instruments in the Beis HaMikdash exhaustive?
Rambam (Hil. Klei HaMikdash 3:4) lists the instruments accompanying the Leviim:
וּבַמֶּה הֵם מְנַגְּנִין. בִּנְבָלִים וַחֲלִילִים וְכִנּוֹרוֹת וַחֲצוֹצְרוֹת וְהַצִּלְצָל. וְאֵין פּוֹחֲתִין ...
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Source for Vilna Gaon saying that music can revive the dead?
I remember learning (and even found in the 2nd to last paragraph of this article) that the Vilna Gaon said that music is so powerful that it's possible to resurrect the dead with it.
Anyone have the ...
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Creating songs in your head (lyrics and melodies) on Shaabath
What I've noticed is that when there is not too much to talk about with haShem, I get kinda 'hyper'. In this state I like to go a bit primal and just shout out some noises, do some clapping and stuff ...
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Chayav Inish - Source of Tune?
What is the origin of this classic melody for the popular Purim song "Chayav Inish Lebasumei"?
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Humming or whistling being Kol Isha
I've heard various opinions from lay-people if a woman's whistling and/or humming a tune are considered kol isha, which a man shouldn't listen to, and something women should be considerate of. I ...
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What kind of flute was used in the temple, according to the mishna?
In Mishna there are several mentions of the use of flute, there were used at the time of the Bet Mikdash, see below a few examples. I am interested to know if we have some knowledge about the type of ...
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