Introduction of a Protestant Choral Music Method to Melbourne’s Jewish Community: Raphael Benjamin and Joel Fredman

Abstract

One of the principle methods of teaching vocal music literacy during the nineteenth century in Britain was John Curwen’s Tonic Sol-fa. The original aim of the method was to provide a simple means of promoting Sunday School singing and it soon became the medium for hymn singing in Protestant churches, in community choral singing and later in school music education. In contrast to Orthodox Judaism, Jewish communities in England were influenced by the Jewish Reform Movement and a distinctive form of Anglo-Judaism emerged which gave greater prominence to music within the synagogue worship. The majority of Jews emigrating to Australia from England at this time were influenced by the Anglo-Judaic ..