Plurivocality in the Liturgical Music of the Jews of San‘a (Yemen)

Musicologists today agree that the traditional music of the Yemenite Jews has unique stylistic characteristics. These characteristics are found in the musical existence of certain specific musical elements common to all the Yemenite Jews. The search for these musical elements has been a main concern in the ethnomusicological studies of this Jewish tradition. Indeed, several scholars have striven - each in his or her own way - to deepen our understanding of the traditional musical styles of the Yemenite Jews. 

Plurivocality, the simultaneous occurrence of different musical events in vocal performances, is one of the most salient characteristics of Yemenite Jewish music. In this article we will attempt to define the structure of this musical phenomenon in its performance context.