What is “Jewish Music”? This question comes up so many times especially when it come to music played at a Jewish wedding. SimchaSpot.com reached out to world renowned composer Abie Rotenberg and asked the following question:
“What defines Jewish music?”
Here is Abie’s response:
I’ll try “al regel achas” to give you a coherent answer. Surely there is no particular style, genre or rhythm unique to Jewish music. We have no sheet music or tradition as to what was sung by the Leviim in the Bais Hamikdosh…or how David Hamelech expressed his words in song.
Historically, the music of each region which contained a Jewish community mirrored to a great extent the traditional music of its host country. Some obvious examples would be the unique characteristics of Sephardic music vis a vis Chasidic, or Eastern European music vis a vis Western European music, such as that of Germany & Holland. Clearly our sojourn in America the last hundred years has added new wrinkles in how Jewish music is expressed. So the question is a valid one. What makes music Jewish? My feeling is that Jewish music is a relative term. Ideally, both the composer and the listener are on the same page. The composer intends to write a melody that will properly convey the meaning of the words they are associated with, and thus elevate and inspire the listener (or in the case of a niggun only…do the same without words) in a spiritually positive way. The listener as well, turns to “Jewish” music for the same reason. To be inspired and uplifted in ruchniyus…either through contemplation, emotional stirring or unabashed joy for a Simcha Shel Mitzva occasion or simply for having the privilege of being a Yid.
Music will always evolve. That which was pleasant to our ears likely did not have the same effect on our parents nor do we find appealing to a great extent, the music that our children and grandchildren love to listen and dance to. If as parents we are successful in being mechanech our children to have the correct priorities in life, the music they choose will enhance their lives and their ability to come closer to Hashem. May we all be zoche to achieve that goal. KT.
Abie Rotenberg
