This interdisciplinary course examines how three major Jewish communities
Babylon, Aleppo, and Jerusalem developed distinctive musical practices through centuries of cultural encounters within the Arabic musical world
You'll Learn: Explore Arabic music theory: maqam, microtonality, and ornamentation. Practice authentic piyyutim (paraliturgical poetry) from each tradition. Trace Babylonian musical development from ancient Mesopotamia to modern Iraq. Discover Aleppo's mystical Baqashot winter ceremonies and Sephardic influences. Examine Jerusalem's evolving Sephardic-Jerusalemite tradition as a living practice.
Learning Approach: Combining historical research, ethnographic methods, and performance practice, you'll experience music as a bridge between faith, identity, and creativity. Learn through oral teaching with master practitioners, expert interviews, and interactive timelines. Created by The Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, featuring scholars, musicians, and tradition-bearers.
Hagai Bilitzky is a senior lecturer at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, specializing in Middle Eastern music and double bass performance. Born in Jerusalem, he began his musical journey on classical guitar before transitioning to double bass and jazz. After three years in New York's jazz scene, he returned to Israel where his encounter with oud master Nino Biton redirected his focus to Middle Eastern music. He completed his M.Mus at JAMD under Prof. Taiseer Elias and Prof. Michael Klinghoffer, becoming a leading figure in Israel's world music scene. As a performer, Hagai has collaborated internationally with renowned artists and orchestras, from UNESCO performances in Paris to solo recitals on major stages worldwide. His 2022 album "New Sound of the Middle East" received international acclaim, being featured as "Top of the World" by Songlines Magazine. At JAMD, he teaches a variety of courses and has pioneered innovative approaches to traditional oral music transmission in academic settings
