Re: Nusach Sepharard vs. Nusach Edot HaMizrach

[richard_wolpoe <richard_wolpoe...>]

The confusion is with regard to the word Nusash

Nusach meaning 1 refers to the text of the liturgy.

Nusach meaning 2 refers to the musical mode, motif (shteiger), eg Ahava 
Rabba Mode is part of standard Nusahc Ashkenaz (and Nusach Separad meaning 
1)

Now let's define Ashkenaz and Sepharad.

Ahskenaz refers to Germany.  BUT in meanng 2 it is widely used for Poland, 
lita, etc.

Sepharad means Spain. BUT in meaning 1 it actually refers to the 
litiurgical text of Eastern European Chasidim when they aapted Nusach Ari, 
etc.  So let's say we turn the clock back to about 1800 and travel to 
somewhere near the Carpahtian mountains. There might be a hypothetical 
Cahssidishe Shtiebel that daven Nusah Spharad (meaning 1) but used Polisher 
Nusach (meaning 2).  whiel the nearby large shul might maintain nusach 
askenaz (as did the Remo shul in Cracow) but the meoldies would be similar 
in that they would be Polish (and NOT German)...

I cannot speka to Edot Hamizrach.  I'm faily condiant it includes Syria, 
I'm not sure about Morroco.

Now true Sephardim split up between the East (say Turkey) and the West (say 
Amsterdam and Hamburg).  So, these groups almost all used the Nushach 
Sepharidim (pre-Chasiddishe) in meaning 1.  However, their musical Nusach 
(ie menaing 2) are VERY different.  The Spanish-Portuguese Jews of New 
York's Shearith Israel use the textual liturgy of their Spanish forebears, 
but the melodies are VERY Western.  Not so the Turkish Jews (inlcluding Jew 
from all over the old Ottoman Empire)...

To simplify, Nusach Sepharad (maening 1) was very prominent among Eastern 
European's chassidic communities, andt the Chassisdim either used 
Polish/hungarian melodies or composed new ones.  

(and Chassidim in Vienna and Oberland Hungary often stayed with Nusach 
Ashkenaz (meaning 1)

Rich Wolpoe    

______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Nusach Sepharard vs. Nusach Edot HaMizrach 
Author:  <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org > at tcpgate
Date:    2/15/98 9:49 PM


Chaverim:

Could someone on the list elucidate for me (and all interested others) the 
difference between Nusach Sepharad and Nusach Edot HaMizrach (custom of the 
Eastern Congregations). I am told the former is actually (and confusingly) 
a variant on Ashkenazic chant.