Bohlman investigates several aspects of Jewish music within the context of the period beginning with the emancipation of German-Jewish culture during the eighteenth century and culminating in the destruction of that same culture under the Nazis.

In this landmark of musical scholarship, the leading 20th-century authority on Jewish music describes and analyzes its elements and characteristics, and chronicles its development from the earliest appearance of Semitic song 2000 years ago to the early 20th century. Liberally illustrating every type of music discussed, the book examines the music as a tonal expression of Judaism, Jewish life and the spiritual aspects of Jewish culture.