Categories
Archive Book Reviews Early Church Fathers Steven Wedgeworth

Music in Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity

John Arthur Smith Music in Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity Ashgate, 2011 John Arthur Smith’s Music in Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity has been described as “the most comprehensive single study to date of Jewish and Christian music in antiquity” It is an academic monograph sharing the methodology of other liturgical historians like Paul Bradshaw, […]

Categories
Archive Nota Bene Steven Wedgeworth

Jewish A Capella

From John Arthur Smith’s Music in Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity: Ancient Jewish cultic music was valid only in connection with the cult, and the cult was valid only at the Temple in Jerusalem. When Jerusalem fell to the Romans in 70 CE, and the Temple destroyed, the cult ceased, and with it cultic music. Hope […]

Categories
Archive Nota Bene Steven Wedgeworth

Imaginative or Afraid?

I’ve been reading through John Arthur Smith’s Music in Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity, so far a fascinating and engaging read. Mr. Smith does have a few moments of skepticism which I do not share (his reluctance to trust 1 & 2 Chronicles for 1st Temple history being the most significant), but otherwise I am finding […]