This work is a comprehensive treatment of the music of Biblical and early Talmudic times. It is thoroughly documented, setting forth the origins, forms and ethos of Hebrew music. It draws upon the most recent archaeological discoveries and contemporary Biblical research, dealing not only with sacred music, but also the broad field of ancient secular music which up to now has been only dimly comprehended. Of special interest to the Christian world in this period of ecumenical discussion is the clarity with which Dr. Sendrey interprets the common musical legacy shared between Judaism and Christianity.

Dr. Sendrey is Professor of Musicology at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles and is widely known in the world of musicology for his important Bibliography of Jewish Music, published by Columbia University Press (1951). This work is today the primary source book for Jewish music research and is used throughout the world.

Alfred Sendrey was a Hungarian-American conductor and composer. A pupil of Koessler at the Budapest Academy (1901-5), he worked in Germany, the USA and Austria as an opera conductor, (also of the Leipzig SO, 1924-32), then moved to Paris (1933-40) and finally to the USA, where he completed his studies of Jewish music.