Le Niggun Meron: Description d’un patrimonie instrumenal juif

The Klezmer musicians of the Ultra-Orthodox communiity in Jerusalem, Safed and Tiberius have a special repertoire which differs from their other Nugunnim. These nigunnim which accompany the solo dance on festival occasions or function as marches are termed 'Niggunei Meron'. This name testifies to the connection between this repertoire and the festivities taking place at Meron on Lag BaOmer and the 6th of Adar. The article discribes Niggunei Merons' functions and brings interviews of research participants. After a discussion of the ethnographic problems the article deals with musical aspects: performance practice, structure, scale and rhythm which emphasize the uniqueness of Nigunnei Meron within Jewish music. Klezmers in the US have a repertoire of nigunnim with similar musical attributes to those of Nigunnei Meron which they call 'Bulgar' or 'Terkish'. Both the Bulgar and Nigunnei Meron are influenced by Balkan music. The article concludes with a comparison between Nigunnei Meron and Romanian and Turkish music. Some of the Musical examples appear in the appended Record (7',33 1/3 RPM)