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b-hebrew - Re: [b-hebrew] CV syllables, was music in Hebrew

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  • From: Rochelle Altman <willaa AT netvision.net.il>
  • To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] CV syllables, was music in Hebrew
  • Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2006 22:36:58 +0200

As every teacher (retired or not) knows, it's easier to get important points across with a touch of humor. "Bean-counters" is not snide, some probably consider it irreverent,;it's just a light-hearted approach -- and accurate.

A little irreverence goes a long way to counter the folks who seem to believe that the Masoretes slanted the texts to suit their theological agenda. Pointing out that they sat there doing the equivalent of counting beans and letting majority rule -- whether it made sense or not -- is important. Those grammatical errors are evidence for their integrity. .

Besides, a light touch and an understanding of the agonal sense of serious play is quite necessary to approach the Psalms... and the Psalms are my focus. (I once gave a presentation at a conference titled: "What have they done to my songs?" <G>)

Feeling better?

Rochelle


Dr Altman wrote:-

>Then, when you come down to it, the Masoretes do not display fine ears
>for anything. They were accountants, bean counters, and they just went by the
>numbers and copied what was in the texts at their disposal. If 14 texts
>has X+. and 12 had Y- ,by gum, X+ it was -- whether it made grammatical
>or musical sense or not.

One could interpret their actions in a kinder light. Perhaps they did
this because of their great reverence for the text before them. Copying
and preserving sacred texts was probably viewed as both a great
priviledge and responsibility. Your snide remark about them being
bean counters should really be seen as developing systems to ensure
the accurate transmission of the sacred. Bean counters or preservers
of the sacred? I'll take the second interpretation any day.

Bill Rea, IT Services, University of Canterbury \_
E-Mail bill.rea AT canterbury.ac.nz </ New
Phone 64-3-364-2331, Fax 64-3-364-2332 /) Zealand
Unix Systems Administrator (/'

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