A Melodic Mystery: The Rediscovered Chants of a Prague Cantor

In the renowned Altneu Shul in Prague, Europe's perhaps most famous synagogue, where the Maharal of Prague and other notable rabbis served, an ancient tradition thrived: welcoming Shabbat with musical instruments and unique songs and melodies crafted by skilled Jewish cantors.

Among these cantors was Rabbi Shabtai Bass, affectionately known as "Rabbi Shabtai the Musician." Although his name may not be widely recognized, his work is present in every Jewish home— "Siftei Chachamim," the commentary on Rashi’s Torah interpretations, which succinctly clarifies Rashi's sources.

He acquired his musical skill from an equally intriguing personality known as "Rabbi Leib Shir Hashirim," famed in Prague and surrounding areas as an expert in the art of song and cantorial music.

Rabbi Shabtai was not only a learned scholar but also a writer, authoring various books on Torah measurements and weights, among other topics.

So, we can envision Rabbi Shabtai performing his famous tunes during Shabbat celebrations with the esteemed congregation of Prague joining in, three centuries ago. But can we actually hear this melody today?

Recently, a rare copy of one of his books was discovered in a library. Inside, there was a page of musical notes included as a decorative element, signaling that the author was a "musician." One of today’s musicians reconstructed and recorded this melody from the notes. Now, we can listen to the Prague cantor’s music from our own computers...