1 minute read
Jews and Muslims Workshop
from Haverim Fall 2022
by nucssh
JEWS AND MUSLIMS IN SHARED DIASPORIC LANDS SERIES CONCLUDES WITH MUSICAL WORKSHOP
ATTENDEES AT THE WORKSHOP (ALAN VERSKIN AND BILL MILES ON LEFT; JOSEPH ALPAR SECOND FROM RIGHT)
BY BILL MILES
Muslim-Jewish Musical Relations in the Middle East was the theme of the concluding workshop on “Jews and Muslims in Shared Diasporic Lands,” organized by Professor William Miles (Political Science) and University of Rhode Island Professor Alan Verskin (History). Professor
Joseph Alpar of Bennington College performed and lectured on Jewish music from Turkey,
Syria, Yemen, and Morocco. The three-part series was funded by a grant from the American IN A VIRTUOSO TWO- Academy of Jewish Research to promote collaborative, cross-institutional research in Jewish Studies. In addition PART PRESENTATION AND to the Jewish Studies Program, the Department of Music PERFORMANCE, PROFESSOR co- sponsored the April 3, 2022 event. JOSEPH ALPAR SHARED HIS In a virtuoso two-part presentation and performance, ETHNOMUSICOLOGICAL EXPERTISE ON MUSLIMS AND Professor Joseph Alpar shared his ethnomusicological expertise on Muslims and Jewish Musical Relations in the Middle East. An invited audience of faculty and students JEWISH MUSICAL RELATIONS were treated to riveting presentations punctuated by IN THE MIDDLE EAST. slides and compelling, beautiful liturgical music. In Part I, Professor Alpar spoke about and performed sacred
Jewish music from Turkey (Istanbul and Edirne, in particular) and a theo-pedagogic song from Aleppo, Syria. He also discussed his most recent research into the Turkish-influenced chanting of the Mishnaic book Pirke Avot (Sayings of Our Fathers), providing an audio example of it. In Part II of the Workshop, he provided the socio-historical context for, and then sang, magnificently, Hebrew poems from Yemen and Jewish wedding songs from Morocco, Greece, and Istanbul.
Bill Miles is Professor of Political Science, Affiliate Faculty in Jewish Studies, and co-convener of the workshop series Jews and Muslims in Shared Diasporic Lands. Information about the previous workshops can be found in Haverim Summer 2020, page 6.
