Page:Jewish Encyclopedia Volume 1.pdf/438

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" 'Al ha-Rishonim " i.s chantcfl as an introduction to the piyut to sonic elaborate melody tnidilionally assneiated with the occasion. Three such melodies are widely known, one for Passover, the second for the other "festivals, and the third for the Sabhaths of the 'Omer period. None of these melodies has any pretensions to antiquity, the iniitcrial of construction, quoted partly from related sections of the service, being clearly traceable. But those for the Passover and for the 'Omer Sabbaths succeeding it may be quoted in juxtapnsitiim to illustrate a i)rinciple underlying all the Jewish musical uses, in accordance with which the character, even the mode, of a melody varies rather according to tlu' occasion on which it is to be chanted than according to the .sentiment of the text. Here there is the grateful gaiety of the Passover melody in contrast with the plaintiveness of that for the later season of sad memories the difference being obviotisly not suggested by the text, but by the liistorical associations of these two seasons of the Jewish year. F. L. C.

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who lived in Spain and traveled in the Orient. Xcitber the date of his birth nor that of his death is known, Pos.sessing a masterly knowledge of Hebrew and Arabic, he seems to have been a]>preeiated as a i>oet at home and on the various journeys he made to soutliern France. His disposition was a genial one: he loved what was witty and sparkling. His tirst introduction to the literary world was in the shape of a translation of the celebrated " Makamaf'of the Arabic poet, Hariri of Hozra.in whi( li,in inimitable style, he faithfully adhered to the sudden rimes and abounding (piaint conceits of his original. But, while a masterof witty poetry, he wasa serious student as well, understamling and aiipreciating the value of such works as Mainionides' Translator. " Commentary on the Mishnah " and " Moreli Xebukim." both of which he likewise translated the former only in part from Arabic into Hebrew. In an evil hour for himself, he determined to travel to the Holy Land, as his distinguished [iredecessor, Judah ha-Levi, had done fifty years before. Unfortunately times had changed Jewish poetry and the love for it had considerably declined since Ila-Levi had brought both to the highest pit ch. This decline was not altogether without cause tury,

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AL-HARIZI,

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SOLOMON

B.

A celebrated the early part of the thirteenth cen-

(surnamed AT."ff ATtlZI):

Hebrew poet of

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