Maqam and Liturgy: Ritual, Music, and Aesthetics of Syrian Jews in Brooklyn »

Explores the cultural connection between Syrian Jewish life and Arab culture in present-day Brooklyn, New York through liturgical music.

List of Illustrations

List of Musical Examples

List of Tables

Introduction The Spontaneity of Prayer 1

Pt. 1 Background

1 Cultures in Contact through Music 11

2 History of the Syrian Jewish Community in Brooklyn 23

3 Syrian Liturgy and Prayer Books 37

Pt. 2 Sabbath Morning Service

4 Syrian Musical Life: The Maqam System as Practiced in Brooklyn 53

5 Sabbath Morning Service 73

6 Birkhot ha-Shahar and Zemirot 84

7 Shaharit 95

8 Torah Service and Musaf 137

9 Overall Design of the Syrian Sabbath Morning Service 152

Pt. 3 A Judeo-Arab Synthesis

10 The Maqamat and the Weekly Biblical Reading 161

11 Aesthetics, Performance Practice, and Maintenance of Syrian Liturgy 191

Conclusion: Judeo-Arab Synthesis in the Syrian Sabbath Liturgy 207

Notes 219

Bibliography 239

Index 251

List of CD Tracks 267