Medieval Music, Shofar

The Shofar is the ritual instrument of the ancient and modern Hebrews, the only Hebrew cultural instrument to have survived until now. Of martial origin, the shofar was a priestly instrument in Biblical times. According to the Mishna, two different forms of shofar were used in the Temple.

  • One made of ibex horn
    Its bell ornamented with gold, was sounded at New Year andduring the Yovel Days

  • One made of ram's horn
    With silver ornamentation, was sounded on fast days.

We learn from the Mishna and the Talmud that in the Hellenistic period no improvements or modifications that might affect the tone were permitted: no gold-plating of its interior, no plugging of holes, no alteration of its length, the shofar tone was to be preserved unaltered

 

 

Music Bladder Pipe Cornamuse Dulcian Gamba Harp Harpsichord Kortholt Lizard Lute Organetto Pipe and Tabor Psaltery Rebec Recorder Sacbut Schalmei Serpent Shawm Shofar Viol Songs