Musiques liturgiques juives: parcours et escales

Published in 1998 by Actes Sud in collaboration with the Cité de la Musique, this 174-page volume is part of the "Musiques du monde" collection. It includes 32 illustrations, a glossary, bibliography, discography, and is accompanied by a compact disc featuring audio examples

Roten's work serves as both a historical journey and an ethnomusicological study, aiming to illuminate the complexity and diversity of Jewish liturgical music traditions. The book is structured into two main parts:

1. Historical Journey - This section traces the evolution of Jewish liturgical music from ancient times to the present, highlighting key developments such as the emergence of the piyyut (religious poetry), the role of the hazzan (cantor), and the influence of various cultural contexts on musical styles.

2. Thematic Explorations - Roten delves into three “Geographical Stopovers” – specific communities and their unique musical practices, including:

• The ancient Portuguese Marrano communities of southwestern France
• The musical heritage of the Jews of Djerba
• The distinctive liturgy of Ethiopian Jews
• Technical Stopover – an attempt to identify shared traits within the diversity  of the previous section.

By examining these diverse traditions, the book showcases how Jewish liturgical music has adapted and thrived in various cultural landscapes. Although uneven in its content and not without inaccuracies, this is nonetheless a valuable resource. Spanish translation available (Madrid: Akal 2002)

Accompanying CD

The included CD offers a curated selection of liturgical music examples, providing auditory illustrations of the discussed traditions. This feature enhances the reader's understanding by allowing direct engagement with the musical pieces.