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Citation as a key to understanding Nigunim (using the example of the thematic group "The Soul descends into the body")

Since the time of the Talmud, quoting has been an immanent technique for creating texts of various levels in Jewish culture in general and in music in particular. The references between the texts create semantic relationships and become "hyperlinks" that help to get into the idea of the sounding material. Using the example of the Nigunim group, united by the theme of the descent of the soul into the body, the use of citation techniques in Hasidic music will be shown. The Nigunim attributed by the author of the report to this group were created at different times. Despite the fact that they contain various fragments of Scripture, they are united by a quotation that embodies the idea of the "cry" of a soul torn from its Source. The presence of the above-mentioned quotation is not the only sign of the systematization of melodies, which will be demonstrated with the involvement of additional material.