The Shofar: Its History and Use

In The Shofar: Its History and Use, Jeremy Montagu offers a detailed study of the ram's horn of the Bible, describing its history and use, both ritual and secular, from biblical times to the present day. Because most of those who hear--and use--the shofar hear the same blower each year during the Jewish high holidays, few are aware of the wide differences among communities around the world in which the shofar-blowing tradition exists, the varying points in the Jewish liturgical service when the shofar is blown, what sound combinations and even possibilities exist, and the many varieties extant. This is an ideal work for Jews and Christians, scholars of religion and musicologists, and even practicing musicians seeking to understand the critical role played by this instrument in the life of a people.