Theory System
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Similar to oriental music, hebrew music has very little harmony and more melody. Usually, the singers would all sing the melody together, with the exception of when the congregation finishes or repeats the leader. Psalms might occasionally be repeated by someone else in a lower or higher key because the tonality would be adjusted while still being familiar to the others.
The theory system of hebrew music is very similar to modern music theory in western culture. In comparison to western music, hebrew music was fairly simplistic and not as detailed. For example, dominant sevenths, diminished chords and the blues scale were most likely not present in their theory system at the time. Instruments were made and played in a very similar fashion, although the scoring of music was slightly different. Cantillation symbols were used to indicate certain actions in the Psalm manuscripts, which can be applied to contemporary sheet music format using the following set of rules
If the opening syllable of a word in a manuscript has no symbol, it is indicated to be the tonic.
If the cantillation symbols appear above or below a word, they are treated the same regardless.
If a new symbol appears, it influences all subsequent syllables until another symbol appears.
A syllable is treated as a slur when two symbols are placed adjacent either above or below it.
A harmony is possible when one symbol is placed above and below a syllable.
In the Psalm manuscripts, the main tonality is A minor and the secondary tonality is E minor.
The theory system of hebrew music is very similar to modern music theory in western culture. In comparison to western music, hebrew music was fairly simplistic and not as detailed. For example, dominant sevenths, diminished chords and the blues scale were most likely not present in their theory system at the time. Instruments were made and played in a very similar fashion, although the scoring of music was slightly different. Cantillation symbols were used to indicate certain actions in the Psalm manuscripts, which can be applied to contemporary sheet music format using the following set of rules
If the opening syllable of a word in a manuscript has no symbol, it is indicated to be the tonic.
If the cantillation symbols appear above or below a word, they are treated the same regardless.
If a new symbol appears, it influences all subsequent syllables until another symbol appears.
A syllable is treated as a slur when two symbols are placed adjacent either above or below it.
A harmony is possible when one symbol is placed above and below a syllable.
In the Psalm manuscripts, the main tonality is A minor and the secondary tonality is E minor.