Book Description
This is a translation by Dennis Weber, edited by John Wheeler and jointly published with King David's Harp, in which a noted French musicologist argues that the accentual system preserved in the Masoretic Text was originally a method of recording hand signals ("chironomy") by which temple musicians were directed in the performance of music. She explains her reconstruction of these notations which has allowed her and her students to perform haunting and beautiful music around the world using only the Hebrew text as a score. You'll need to be a musician to follow all of her discussion, but anyone interested in the Bible and the implications of a text that can be played on musical instruments will find the overall discussion fascinating. "This book is thought-provoking and controversial." Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly "This well-translated edition is stocked with written musical examples, photographs of cited manuscripts, and copious documentation . . . In addition, the impressive array of testimonials from experts in the field assures the uninformed reader-as well as scholars, musicians and theologians-that Haïk-Vantoura's work deserves serious consideration." Biblical Archaeologist 56:47 "This book is not easy reading. While there is a glossary of musical terms, it is hard to imagine many nonmusicians with the perseverance to plow through the technical discussions . . . [but] This takes nothing away from the importance of the work. The arguments seem scrupulously drawn, with due consideration of rejected alternatives." Interpretation 1993(July): 324

Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French

About the Author
After her studies at the Conservatoire National Superior de Paris, Suzanne Haïk-Vantoura made her career as an organist, teacher, composer and music theorist. During World War II, she first attempted to decipher the musical signs (teamim) of the Hebrew Bible, the original meaning of which had been lost. Since 1970 she has devoted herself exclusively to this task and to the publication of the texts she has deciphered.

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