Re: Hebrew Liturgical Music of Rome, Piedmont, Italy

[Francesco Spagnolo <yuval.italia...>]

Dear Alex,

it's a good thing to bump into Elio Piattelli's collections of 
Italian liturgical and para-liturgical tunes!

The two books you mentioned were followed by a third one, on the 
Sephardic ritual in Florence (1982). Piattelli, z.l., recently passed 
away in Rome, where he had been active for many many years as choir 
director at the main synagogue of the city (the one in the Ghetto, 
next to the Tevere).
His three published books are only a part of the immense work of 
transcribing traditional Italian tunes from all over the country 
(Trieste, Venice, etc.) that he undertook throughout his life.

His sources were of various origins. For Rome, he based the 
transcriptions on the tradition as it was being carried on by the 
main cantors of his days, both of Italian and Sephardic rite. His 
work arrived, Rome-wise, a little bit "late" (although it is 
priceless), at a time in which the distinctions between the ancient 
Italian ritual and an array of Sephardic influences (from Sicily, 
Livorno, and Sepharad at large, as represented in the famous "Cinque 
scole", the Five Synagogues that were unified in the present one at 
the beginning of the 20th century), were already difficult to discern.

For Florence, his source was chiefly the late Rabbi and Cantor 
Fernando Belgrado, a wonderful singer, and also a great fan of J. 
Rosenblatt, as some of the pieces he used to sing clearly show. 
However, the Florence book is a good source, especially if combined 
with the "Italian" tunes that appear in I. Levy's collection of 
Sephardic liturgical melodies.

For Piedmont, his source were the recordings made in the 1950's by 
Leo Levi. Here, being quite familiar with the original materials, I 
am able to evaluate Piattelli's skills as a transcriber of orally 
transmitted tunes, and say that although the transcriptions are 
altogether quite reliable, they are sometimes misleading if compared 
with the recordings. The same can be said for the unpublished 
transcriptions, as well as for those Roman and Florentine pieces that 
also appear in Leo Levi's recordings.

As far as giving a general evaluation of the repertoire, its 
modality, and possible dates, I would like to refer you to the little 
introduction I provide in the booklet of the CD "Italian Jewish 
Musical Traditions from the Leo Levi Collection", issued earlier this 
year by the Jewish Music Research Center at the Hebrew University, 
together with the Italian National Music Academy, which you can find 
online.
These materials are so varied in origin that it is difficult to say 
something relevant about them as a whole, but if you (or anyone else 
on the List) are interested in specific items, I can try to help.

Best,
Francesco


>B"H Rome
>
>While meandering through the Roman Ghetto, I bumped
>into a perhaps major collection of old Italian
>melodies with Hebrew texts, used for the religious
>service. Transcribed with commentaries by Elio
>Piattelli, dating from 1967 (the Italian tradition,
>over 200 pages), and an updated volume (1986) with
>Piedmont tunes (124 pages).
>
>Does anyone know anything about these? Much modality,
>which would probably point to 16-17th century taste.
>Any singers who can volunteer any information?
>
>Ciao for niao,
>
>Alex Jacobowitz
>
>
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>Do you Yahoo!?
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