The importance of music in the life of the Jewish people is found almost at the beginning of Genesis. Musicians were mentioned among the three fundamental professions.... Music was viewed as a necessity in everyday life, as a beautifying and enriching complement of human existence.

After the destruction of the Temple and the subsequent diaspora of the Jewish people, music was initially banned but then began to crystallize into definite form with the liturgical poems which the cantor sang to selected melodies. Ashkenazic Jews named these official tunes "tropes" but they echo the tones and rhythms of each country and age in which the Jews lived.

Jewish history was influenced by music when David, pictured above, was able to soothe King Saul's torment with the music of his lyre. The klezmers ( a Hebrew word meaning vessel of song ) were groups of musicians who based their secular instrumental music upon the devotional vocal music of the synagogue, in particular cantorial music. This lecture contains photos, film clips, and actual demonstrations on accordion. clarinet, and voice.