Re: Question from BBC

[Jewish Music Distribution <jmduk...>]

Re: Question from BBCDear Francesco

Thank you very much for your useful comments. I am enclosing here the original 
request for all those who fealt the need to respond on the political level of 
this issue, and am grateful for all the musical comments I received.

Hugh Wrote:
I am a producer with BBC Radio 4 and I am making a documentary about the 
history of the blood libel. The programme will be aired next January to 
coincide with Holocaust Day. The aim is to portray the history of the blood 
libel from early mediaeval times in England, across Central Europe and ending 
up in the contemporary Middle East. 
I am very keen to include any relevant music and I wondered if you had any 
scores or recordings that might possibly be relevant to the subject. This might 
include songs directly about the blood libel, or mediaeval Jewish music from 
across Europe. 

With many thanks,
Hugh XX
BBC World Current Affairs Radio


Thanks

Noa

*************************************************

Noa Lachman
Jewish Music Distribution 
PO Box 67 
Hailsham BN27 4UW
UK
Free phone: 0800 7811 686
Tel/Fax: (44) 01323 832 863
Website: www.jewishmusic-jmd.co.uk
email: orders (at) jewishmusic-jmd(dot)co(dot)uk
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Francesco Spagnolo 
  To: World music from a Jewish slant 
  Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2003 6:25 PM
  Subject: Re: Question from BBC


  Maybe we can keep this within the boundaries of music -- although I agree 
that by being involved in music we are political beings, and that it is 
worthwhile to keep that in mind and to remind ourselves of it as often as we 
can...


  Maybe the BBC service that contacted Noa was not the news one, but cultural 
programming, either TV or radio. Speaking as a radio professional, I have to 
say that BBC cultural programming has an excellent profile, probably one of the 
best in Europe.


  Getting back to Noa's query: I personally do not know of any Jewish work that 
dealt specifically with this long lasting aspect of anti-Semitism. The blood 
libel tradition is part of the general anti-Judaic aspects of Christianity 
since the Middle Ages. Within Catholocism, such aspects were renounced formally 
only under John XXIII's Second Vatican Council.


  Catholic musical anti-Judaism has a tradition too. I would suggest the BBC 
programmers to look into the repertoire of "Improperia", religious musical 
compositions based on texts accusing the Jews of deicide. It is indeed a very 
interesting repertoire, which originates straight from medieval times and finds 
its way into the Baroque. I am away from my music collection, but I remember 
something by Sammartini related to this. It always amazed me that such inspired 
music could be written on texts that express such a refined degree of hatred.


  Francesco
  (after a year spent in Jerusalem, one block away from the Green Line...)




    BBC rang me today to ask if I know of any music which is directly related 
to the blood libel

    Any ideas for them??

    thanks
    Noa




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