Re: Nusach Sepharard vs. Nusach Edot HaMizrach

[Joel Bresler <jbresler...>]

Thanks for a great response. 

To sum up, if Nusach can be used two different ways, is there any foolproof
way to distinguish how it's being used on any given recording? (To identify
music that would traditionally be sung by Sephardim as opposed to
Ashkenazim?) Or might it require that I ask of the label or performer which
usage (of nusach) they mean?

Best, Joel



At 10:25 AM 2/17/98 -0500, you wrote:
>
>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. 
>
>
>
>


Joel Bresler
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