Jewish Hymnography

Leon J. Weinberger was University Research Professor Emeritus at the University of Alabama, and winner of the 1995 Friedman Prize of the Histadrut Ivrit of America for contributions to Hebrew literature and culture. He died in 2011.

• Note on transliteration Abbreviations Hispano-Hebrew Metres Introduction 1 The Beginnings of Hymnography in Eres Yisra'el and Babylon The Early Period in Eres Yisra'el: General Background; The Principal Poets; The Principal Genres * The Classical Period in Ers Yisra'el: General Background; The Principal Poets; The Principal Genres; Language and Style * Post-Classical Developments in the Babylonian Diaspora: General Background; The Principal Poets; The Principal Genres; New Genres 2 Hymnographic Developments in Spain General Background * Language and Style * The Principal Genres 3 Cantor-Rabbis in Italy, Franco-Germany, and England General Background * The Principal Italian Poets * Language and Style in Italy * The Principal Italian Genres * The Principal Franco-German Poets * Franco-German Language and Style * The Principal Franco-German Genres * England's Principal Poets 4 Poets in Balkan Byzantium General Background * The Principal Poets: Early Romaniotes * The Principal Genress of the Early Romaniotes * The Principal Poets: Later Romaniotes * The Principal Genres of the Later Romaniotes 5 Cantor-Poets on Greece's Periphery: Macedonia, Bulgaria, Corfu, Kaffa (Crimea), and Crete General Background: Macedonia and Bulgaria * The Principal Macedonian and Bulgarian Poets * The Principal Macedonian Genres * General Background: Corfu, Kaffa (Crimea), and Crete * The Principal Corfiote Poets * The Principal Corfiote Genres * General Background: Kaffa * The Principal Kaffan Poets * The Principal Kaffan Genres * General Background: Crete * The Principal Cretan Poets *The Principal Cretan Genres 6 Ottoman Hymnography General Background * The Principal Poets * The Principal Genres 7 Karaite Synagogue Poets General Background * The Principal Poets * Language and Style * The Principal Genres Glossary Select bibliography Index of piyyutim (Hebrew) Index of piyyutim (Transliterated) General index

‘A pivotal reference book . . . The volume's coverage is admirably broad and dense; its approach and presentation are apt and felicitous. Nothing comparable has been available in English . . . we owe Weinberger a big debt of gratitude.’- Ephraim Nissan, Shofar