Modes

Singing the prayer magen avot, the abbreviated repetition of Sabbath-eve amidah, is an old tradition which "goes back to the third century." Jewish communities in different parts of the world share the same mode for the prayer, though each community has its own variant. This mode, which, to Idelsohn, is the deepest expression of the Jewish soul, is based on an "original melodic line of Jewish folk song" and is also the foundation of various synagogue melodies (e.g. Leoni's yigdal).

A somewhat controversial article in which Idelsohn tries to show traces of Jewish music in French folk music. Jews settled in France in the fourth century; "they were scattered throughout the country and lived mingled with the native people" until the fourteenth century when they were expelled twice, first in 1306 and for the second time in 1394.

Added title page, contents and abstract in Hebrew

10 volumes; Also in English (vols. 1-2, 6-10) and Hebrew (vols. 1-5). Each volume contains scores of various kinds of music (liturgical and paraliturgical, as well as comparisons to music of other communities or to non-Jewish music), preceded by an introductory section about the Jews, their culture and languages, and their music (including theoretical analysis).

Vols. 1-2, 6-10; Also in German (1-10) and Hebrew (vols. 1-5). Each volume contains scores of various kinds of music (liturgical and paraliturgical, as well as comparisons to music of other communities or to non-Jewish music), preceded by an introductory section about the Jews, their culture and languages, and their music (including theoretical analysis).