Jonathan L. Friedmann is a professor of Jewish music history at the Academy for Jewish Religion, California, and Extraordinary Professor of theology at North-West University (South Africa). He is the author, editor or compiler of eleven other books on music and religion. Visit his website at [...].

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction

I. Foundations, Functions and Figures

What Is Sacred Music?

Music and Civilization

A Most Ancient Ritual

Musical Supervisors

Community and Liturgy

Sacred Time, Sacred Sound

Practical Functions of Synagogue Music

A Resonant World

Singing Metaphysics

Sanctification

Music as Language

Beauty in Sacred Song

Some Thoughts on "Traditional" Synagogue Music

Creating a Synagogue Musical Tradition

The Development of Jewish Music Traditions

Judging Synagogue Song

The Problems of Meaning

Conformity and Survival

Charismatic Tunes

Jewish Youth and Musical Change
Nusach Variations

Sacred Classics

Sing a New Song

Musical Layers

A Shir Koddesh

Instruments of Worship

Richard Dawkins and Synagogue Song

Darwin, Heschel, Music, and Marriage

Liturgical Hits

The Legacy of Jack Gottlieb

II. Spirituality, Emotions and Identity

Religion, Emotion and Music

The Divine Lover of Music

To Edify and Glorify

Six Songs in the Hebrew Bible

Music, Prayer and Concentration

An Instrument Divine

Singing Is Believing

From Heart to Heart

Moods, Modes and Musical Meaning

Mystery and Melody

Singing, Health and Prayer

Heart and Mind

Serving God with Joy
Niggunim and Augustine

Holy Noises

Songs Without Words

Hymns of Praise

Stereotyping Synagogue Sounds

Singing for Joy

Being the Music

Absolute Music, Absolute Worship

Fight Songs and Fighting Words

Musical Taste, Musical Fact

Ethnicity in Jewish Music

Historicism and Futurism

Music and the Mitzvah of Nostalgia

Musical Minhag

Identity and Memory

Performing Identity

Diversity and Balance

III. Holidays and Liturgy

Shabbat Singing

Music and the Moods of Shabbat

Opening Songs on Shabbat
Vayekhulu and the Renewal of Time

Reinterpretation Through Song

Thanksgiving Every Week

The Modern Origins of an "Ancient" Tune

Springtime and the Song of Songs

Song of Redemption

Sound of the Sea
Akdamut and the Power of Song

Songs of Renewal

Moses, Music and Eurocentrism

The Curious Case of Kol Nidrei

The Sound of Sincerity

Rejoicing in Torah

Songs of Victory and Light

The Maoz Tzur Melody: Sacred or Sinful?

Making Noise

Music, Midrash and Megillah

Tension and Release
Aleinu: Its Storied Past and Sacred Melodies

Adon Olam: Master of the World

The Myth of Ein Keloheinu

The Religious Roots of Hava Nagila

IV. Cantors, Choirs and Congregations

The Cantor at the Center of the World

Singing and Prophecy

Cantors and Levites

More Than a Voice

The Cantorial Ideal

The Cantor's Prayer

Cantors, Rabbis, Hitters and Pitchers

The Choir in Jewish History

The Music of Heaven on Earth

Unity, Participation and the Choral Experience

From Choir to Congregation

Why Congregations Sing

A Blended Sound

The Limits of Congregational Singing

Good and Friendly Music

Appendix: Jewish Music Research
Bibliography
Index