An Initial Examination of “Ethos” as a Constituent Factor in the Musical Framework of the Liturgical Music of Ashkenazi Tradition

One of the most important defining characteristics of Ashkenazi liturgical music is its text-time-occasion-ritual sensitivity. Thus the framework of reference that constitutes this performance discipline comprises an aggregate sum of interrelations among musical and extra-musical components. In view of this foundation, a question arises whether an extra-musical factor entitled “ethos” may also be a constituent factor. In other words, are there also built-in connections between musical components and subject matters such as emotions, philosophical concepts, virtues or ethical values and moral stances, humors, temperaments, moods, and the like. As opposed to the self-evident built-in text-time-occasion-ritual sensitivities, “ethos” calls for some detective work.

In his 1971 article, “The Concept of Mode in European Synagogue Chant,” Hanoch Avenary makes an initial and unprecedented attempt at exploring “ethos” using the Adonai Malach mode as a case study. Basing his endeavor on the idea of kingship—implied in the title itself—Avenary concludes that there is no indication for the existence of ethos related to this mode. My exploration of this topic uses Avenary’s discussion as a springboard, demonstrating that an adjustment of his initial supposition, may suggest that some aspects of ethos do play a role in this framework. The premise for my exploration lies within the underlining of two primary orthogonal axes that cross the entire Jewish liturgy, which in turn represent two opposite themes. One of these themes, which stems from the above-mentioned adjustment of Avenary’s premise, is indeed represented by music that features the Adonai Malach mode. The existence of ethos thus manifests through built-in extra-musical components that match either the Adonai Malach thematic axis or its orthogonal counterpart. The contrast between these two themes and especially the different texts-occasion-ritual in which their musical markers appear, uncovers some markers of ethos in this musical framework.