Crossing Over

This book, based on an MA thesis, examines Sephardicmelodies that were adopted into the liturgy ofAshkenazi Jews in London during the early twentiethcentury. The work begins by presenting a history ofSephardic and Ashkenazi Jews from the time theysettled in England to the end of the nineteenthcentury. Through an analysis of social and religiouschanges taking place among English Jews of thenineteenth century, this book explicates reforms inthe synagogue service that led to the inclusion ofpolyphonic music into the synagogue and eventually tothe incorporation of Sephardic melodies intoAshkenazi synagogue practice. The attempt to canonizethe music of Ashkenazi Jews in England was manifestedin the widely successful Handbook of Synagogue Music. Fifteen melodies of Sephardic origin published inthe Sephardic compilation The Ancient Melodies(1857), as well as in the Reform hymnal (1880) wereincluded in the 1899 edition of the Handbook. Thisbook examines the reasons these Sephardic melodieswere chosen for inclusion by the editors of theAshkenazi Handbook during a period of reform.