Large Manuscript - Collection of Hundreds of Piyutim of Aleppo with Many Unknown Piyutim that have never been ...

Large Manuscript - Collection of Hundreds of Piyutim of Aleppo with Many Unknown Piyutim that have never been Printed! - with Seder Ha'Bakashot for Sabbath Eve - Aleppo, the 19th Century - of a Private Collection - Important and Extremely Rare!
At the beginning of the manuscript: "Bakashot that are said here in this city … during the watch of Sabbath …"
The Piyutim are titled "Bakashot". At the end of the Bakashot, a colophon: "Completetd are the Bakashot, songs and praises that are said here … on Sabbath …" on the reverse side of the leaf: "…. My father Rabbi Yosef Sethon".
The Piyutim are ordered according to the Arabic maqam. Many of the maqams of this collection are unknown. Many of them include the name of their writer. The original tune of the Piyut is written beside each Piyut. The style of the Piyut is also written beside it.
At the end of the volume, detailed indices of all the Piyutim according to the order of the maqams and according to page number. In addition, indices according to the order of the Parshiyot: the Parasha of the Sabbath on which it is sung is written beside each Piyut. There are also indices for the Jewish holidays: Piyutim for Passover, Rosh Chodesh Nissan, Shavu'ot, Shabbat Nachamu, Rosh Ha'Shana and Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Hanukkahm Purim and Rosh Chodesh.
To this day, the Paytanim of the Aleppo version sing the Sabbath prayer according to the maqam designated for that specific Sabbath. For example, on Shabbat Bereshit the maqam used is a happy one while on Shabbat Chayei Sarah, on which we read about Sarah's death, the maqam used is a sad one.
The Maqams
Arabic maqam is the system of melodic modes used in traditional Arabic music, which is mainly melodic. The word maqam in Arabic means place, location or position. The Arabic maqam is a melody type. It is "a technique of improvisation" that defines the pitches, patterns, and development of a piece of music and which is "unique to Arabian art music." There are seventy two heptatonic tone rows or scales of maqamat. These are constructed from major, neutral, and minor seconds. Each maqam is built on a scale, and carries a tradition that defines its habitual phrases, important notes, melodic development and modulation. Both compositions and improvisations in traditional Arabic music are based on the maqam system. Maqamat can be realized with either vocal or instrumental music, and do not include a rhythmic component. Different emotions are attributed to the different maqams: sadness, grief, happiness, yearning, pride, love, etc.

Shirat Ha'Bakashot on Sabbath Eve
"Shirat Ha'Bakashot" is the name for a collection of Piyutim sung by the worshipers at the synagogue before the Shacharit prayer. In the Jewish community of Aleppo, Shirat Ha'Bakashot was highly developed and special books with Shirat Ha'Bakashot were printed. The members of the community used to wake up before dawn on winter Sabbaths (which had long nights) and sing the "Shirat Ha'Bakashot" for four hours, until the time of Shacharit. Some communities in Israel, such as the Ades synagogue and Moussaieff synagogue of Jerusalem, still continue with this tradition today.

Seder Ha'Bakashot of the manuscript before us differs from Shirat Ha'Bakashot that is sung today on Sabbath eve. Today, additional Piyutim were added to Shirat Ha'Bakashot.

391 leaves written on both sides. The pagination is up to leaf 357 (the indices not included). 20 cm.
Soletreo and Rashi script in the style of Aleppo, most likely by two writers. Nice aligned writing. Captions and main words in square script. The Piyutim are numbered by letters of the Aleph Beit.
Condition: Good-Very Good. Bright, thick, high-quality leaves. Several white leaves between the maqams. Condition varying between the leaves. Stains of use and wear. Single leaves are damaged with omission. Loose leaves.
Many of Piyutim here have never been printed!