The role of the cantor and Jewish liturgical music in the Cape Town Jewish orthodox community

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dc.contributor.advisorMuller, Danellen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorSegal, Sandra Reneciaen_ZA
dc.contributor.otherStellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences. Dept. of Music.en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2024-03-04T16:20:30Z
dc.date.accessioned2024-04-26T21:30:42Z
dc.date.available2024-03-04T16:20:30Z
dc.date.available2024-04-26T21:30:42Z
dc.date.issued2024-03
dc.descriptionThesis (MMus)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. en_ZA
dc.description.abstractENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research set out to investigate and document the role of the cantor and his Jewish liturgical musical practices in the Orthodox community of Cape Town. The aim was to document current practices and usage of Jewish liturgical music, allowing comparisons among the cantors working in Cape Town and investigating the emerging trends in other countries. Cape Town has a relatively small Jewish community that appears to be traditional in its Orthodox observances. The research approach was qualitative. The research design was a case study based on primary data. This design allowed for the exploration of opinions and experiences among twelve participants who were interviewed for this study. As the cantor works alongside the rabbi and within his community (and the larger community), the interviewed participants were cantors, rabbis, and Jewish educators. A survey was sent to community members, which gave an understanding of the community’s knowledge and views. The findings of the interviews showed many standard practices and highlighted the differing views of the cantors. The consensus among the cantors is that their role within the synagogue and Jewish liturgical musical traditions remain essential; however, they are willing to embrace new music into the prayer services. The interviews of the rabbis also contained many similarities. Yet, there were valuable and differing opinions on whether the cantor was still required in Cape Town synagogues, and they were less optimistic for the future of the cantorate and Jewish liturgical music. The Jewish educators expanded their educational role in the Cape Town Jewish Day Schools, providing the initial groundwork by equipping the children with the skills, tools and knowledge of Jewish prayers, allowing for future participation in all prayer scenarios. However, they do not see their role as preserving Jewish liturgical traditions. There is a strong sense of tradition within the practices of the Jewish community of Cape Town. Although there is a need to hold onto these traditions, there is also a feeling that Judaism is a living religion and needs to move along with the times. Introducing new song melodies is generally acceptable, but the balance between traditional and modern is continuously scrutinised. Certain aspects of the role of the cantor and Jewish liturgical music are not under negotiation for change, and this was respected amongst all twelve participants.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing het ten doel gehad om die rol van die kantor en sy Joodse liturgiese musiekpraktyke in die Ortodokse gemeenskap van Kaapstad te ondersoek en te dokumenteer. Die doel was om huidige praktyke en gebruike van Joodse liturgiese musiek te dokumenteer, om sodoende vergelykings moontlik te maak tussen die kantors wat in Kaapstad werk en opkomende tendense in ander lande. Kaapstad het ʼn relatief klein Joodse gemeenskap wat tradisioneel blyk te wees in sy Ortodokse gebruike. Die navorsingsbenadering was kwalitatief. Die navorsingsontwerp was ʼn gevallestudie gebaseer op primêre data. Die navorsingsontwerp het dit moontlik gemaak vir die verkenning van menings en ervarings onder twaalf deelnemers met wie onderhoude gevoer is vir hierdie studie. Aangesien die kantor saam met die rabbi en binne sy gemeenskap (en die groter gemeenskap) werk, was die deelnemers wat ondervra is kantors, rabbi’s en Joodse opvoeders. ʼn Opname is aan gemeenskapslede gestuur, wat insig gegee het in die gemeenskap se kennis en sieninge. Die bevindinge van die onderhoude het baie standaardpraktyke getoon en die verskillende standpunte van die kantors uitgelig. Die konsensus onder die kantors is dat hulle rol binne die sinagoge en Joodse liturgiese musiektradisies noodsaaklik bly; hulle is egter bereid om nuwe musiek in die gebedsdienste te oorweeg. Die onderhoude van die rabbi’s het ook baie ooreenkomste bevat. Tog was daar waardevolle en uiteenlopende menings oor of die kantor steeds in Kaapstadse sinagoges vereis word. Die rabbi’s was minder optimisties oor die toekoms van die kantoraat en Joodse liturgiese musiek. Die Joodse opvoeders het hul opvoedkundige rol in die Kaapstadse Joodse Dagskole uitgebrei en verskaf die aanvanklike grondslag deur die kinders toe te rus met die vaardighede, gereedskap en kennis van Joodse gebede, wat voorsiening maak vir toekomstige deelname aan alle gebedscenario’s. Hulle sien egter nie hulle rol as die behoud van Joodse liturgiese tradisies nie. Daar is ʼn sterk gevoel van tradisie binne die praktyke van die Joodse gemeenskap van Kaapstad. Alhoewel daar ʼn behoefte is om vas te hou aan hierdie tradisies, is daar ook ʼn gevoel dat Judaïsme ʼn lewende godsdiens is en dat dit saam met die tyd moet beweeg. Die bekendstelling van nuwe liedmelodieë is oor die algemeen aanvaarbaar, maar die balans tussen tradisioneel en modern word voortdurend onder die loep geneem. Sekere aspekte van die rol van die kantor en Joodse liturgiese musiek is ononderhandelbaar, en dit is onder al twaalf deelnemers gerespekteer.af_ZA
dc.description.versionMastersen_ZA
dc.format.extentxviii, 131 pages : musicen_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttps://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/130545
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.publisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.rights.holderStellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshCantors (Judaism)en_ZA
dc.subject.lcshJewish liturgical music -- South Africa -- Cape Townen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshOrthodox Judaism -- South Africa-- Cape Townen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshJews -- Education -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshJews -- Social life and customsen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshJewish community -- South Africa -- Cape Townen_ZA
dc.subject.nameUCTDen_ZA
dc.titleThe role of the cantor and Jewish liturgical music in the Cape Town Jewish orthodox communityen_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
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