Guide to the Sephardic Liturgical Music Collection,
undated, 1931-1975

ASF AR 23

Processed by Michael D. Montalbano

as part of the Leon Levy Archival Processing Initiative, made possible by the Leon Levy Foundation

American Sephardi Federation

Center for Jewish History

15 West 16th Street

New York, NY 10011

Phone: (212) 294-8350

Fax: (212) 294-8348

Email: info@AmericanSephardiFederation.org or
Rbelinfante@ASF.CJH.org

URL: http://www.americansephardifederation.org

© March 2010. American Sephardi Federation. All rights reserved.

Center for Jewish History, Publisher.

Electronic finding aid was encoded in EAD 2002 by Michael D. Montalbano on March 1, 2010. Description is in English.

Historical Note

This collection was assembled by James Putney, an aficionado of Sephardic music and liturgy music and musician. James went to Israel in the 1970s to learn from noted Sephardic music scholar David Ricardo how to chant the Torah. This collection provides some examples not only in print but also in audio.

Scope and Content Note

This collection was assembled by James Putney in order to document the liturgical music of the Spanish-Portuguese tradition in both print and audio. This collection contains several phonographs recording Sephardic liturgical music. Additionally, an audiocassette contains chanting by David Ricardo, noted scholar of Sephardic liturgical music, of numerous non-holiday verses that Putney recorded in 1980. This collection also contains David Ricardo’s Selected Tunes: From the Portuguese Jews’ Congregation: Amsterdam a collection of musical charts compiled in 1975. Other books include Israel Adler’s Musical Life and Traditions of the Portuguese Jewish Community of Amsterdam in the XVIIIth Century and Sephardi Melodies: Being the Traditional Liturgical Chants of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews’ Congregation: London by the Spanish and Portuguese Jews’ Congregation London. There is also Torah Cantillation: According to the Amsterdam Minhag composed or arranged by James Putney.

Arrangement

This collection has been arranged in alphabetical order by document type and then by subject.

• Folder 1: Audiocassette - Interview with David Ricardo
• Folder 2: Book - Israel Adler - Musical life and traditions of the Portuguese Jewish community of Amsterdam in the XVIIIth century
• Folder 3: Book - Sephardi Melodies: being the Traditional Liturgical Chants of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews’ Congregation: London
• Folder 4: Musical Score – David Ricardo - Selected Tunes: From the Portuguese Jews’ Congregation: Amsterdam
• Folder 5: Musical Score – James Putney - Torah Cantillation: According to the Amsterdam Minhag
• Folder 6: Phonograph - John Levy and Bevis Marks Synagogue
• Folder 7: Phonograph - Music of Congregation Shearith Israel
• Folder 8: Phonograph - Music of the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue – First Record
• Folder 9: Phonograph - Music of the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue – Second Record
• Folder 10: Phonograph - Music of the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue – Third Record

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to researchers.

Use Restrictions

There may be some restrictions on the use of the collection. For more information, contact:

American Sephardi Federation, Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY, 10011

email: RBelinfante@ASF.CJH.org

Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:

Identification of item, date (if known); James Putney Papers; (location); folder number; American Sephardi Federation.

Access Points

• Individuals:

  • Adler, Israel
  • Levy, John
  • Putney, James
  • Ricardo, David

• Organizations

  • Spanish and Portuguese Jews’ Congregation (London, England)
  • Congregation Shearith Israel (New York, N.Y.)

• Subjects:

  • Music--Religious Aspects--Judaism
  • Sephardim--Music
  • Sephardim--Music--History and criticism
  • Sephardim--Songs and music
  • Sephardim--Spain--Music--History and criticism

• Places:

  • Amsterdam (Netherlands)
  • London (England)
  • Portugal
  • Spain

• Document Types:

  • audiocassettes
  • phonograph records
  • sheet music

Container List