Re: pre 17th century Jewish dance

[Joel Bresler <jbresler...>]

Hi, Kristine. Welcome/Brucha Haba'ah.

When you ask after Jewish dance, I take it you are interested in the
mediterranean tradition? That's what I will comment on. 

You should get a copy of "Sephardic Dance in Minnesota? Some Anecdotes
about Dance and Research", Judith Rosalie Brin Ingber, in Jewish Folklore
and Ethnography Review, Vol. 15, No. 2, 1993. The article and its reference
should be extremely helpful to you. There are indeed some pointers to
costumes.

You should know that tracing actual Sephardi _melodies_ (as opposed to the
texts) back to the 17th century and earlier is an area that has kept
scholars arguing for a long time now. The pendulum has swung firmly against
the "the texts are old, so the music must be" theory that held sway until
fairly recently, to the point where some argue against tracing any melodies
back that far. Having said that, it's wonderful music and I hope you enjoy
your exploration. 

Best, Joel



t 02:06 PM 2/14/99 -0500, you wrote:
>Bona Dies!
>
>Ostensibly I joined this list because I was hunting for the lyrics of "Adio
>Querido" (which I did finally find on the liner notes on Judy Frankel's
>"Scalerica de Oro" CD. Thanks!).
>
>But now that I'm here I thought I'd pose a query that's been nagging at me.
> Does anyone know if there has been any research on Jewish dance pre-17th
>century?
>
>I should explain why I ask.  I am an amateur vocalist/musician who helps to
>provide live music for "Northern Oasis", a practice group for Middle
>Eastern dancers affiliated with the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA
>Ontario).  The attempt is being made by SCAers interested in "period Middle
>Eastern" dance (i.e. 12-17th century) -- but it is hard going since only
>now are ethnomusicalogists looking into dance  from the Islamic empire.  
>
>I have some knowledge of 16th century Spanish/Portuguese songs and so, not
>surprisingly, when I joined up with NOasis I gravitated to Ladino songs
>(much easier/nicer than singing in Arabic!). I'd like to help my friends
>with research and thought to take another tack by looking at the following:
>
>               a) representations of dance in "period" Jewish 
> manuscript/illumination (
>a stretch I                    know)
>               b) documentation of Ladino songs back to pre 17th century 
> (Ensemble
>Sarband's
>                       _Sepharad_ has provided me with good start)
>               c) studies in "period" Jewish treatises that make references to 
> dance
>
>Any help/ideas would be greatly appreciated.
>
>Caramente
>Kristine Maitland
>rosanera (at) idirect(dot)com
>www.bestiary.com/diaspora/kristine.html
>
>
>


Joel Bresler
250 E. Emerson Rd.
Lexington, MA 02420 USA

Home:   781-862-2432
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Email:          jbresler (at) ultra(dot)net

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