These signs, which (like the vowels) are not written down in the "official" scrolls used in the synagogue, indicate both the syntactic structure and the musicial rendering of the Biblical verses, and often the accenting of the words as well.
They are divided into three main types:
The musical rendering used in this stack follows the Eastern European customs, found in most North American synagogues. Other communities, such as the German, Spanish or Yemenite Jews, have different versions (though the signs themselves and their syntactic functions) are universal. In addition, there are special renderings in use for other books of the Bible (e.g., Esther and Lamentations), or for special occasions (e.g., festivals).
Though the same cantillation signs are used (for the most part) for different books of the Bible, and they have the same accent and syntactical roles wherever they appear, they are actually chanted in different ways. This page presents samples of the main tunes used for the reading of the Torah and Prophets. Different tunes exist for other books or for certain festivals.
The music will probably begin playing automatically and have to be paused manually. Otherwise, a separate window might be opened for the audio controller.
Notes that connect to the next word (Conjunctive) | Notes that separate from the next word: pauses (Disjunctive) | Notes that stand alone |
---|---|---|
Mahpakh |
Pashta |
Zaqef Gadol |
Munah (preceding "Zaqef Gadol") | Zaqef Qaton | Geresh |
Munah (Preceding another Munah) |
Pazer | |
Telisha Gedolah | ||
Telishah Qetanah | ||
Munah (Preceding a Revia') | Revia' | |
Munah |
Merkha Kefullah |
Shalshelet
|
Darga | Tevir | |
Merkha | ||
Tifha |
Silluq (Sof Pasuq) | |
Yetiv |
Silluq (Sof Parashah) | |
Qadma ve'Azla |
Gershayim | |
Zarqa |
Segol | |
| Qarnei Parah
|