cantillatores

Cantillatores were a group of Jewish musicians and singers who played a significant role in the liturgical traditions of the Sephardic Jewish communities, particularly in the Iberian Peninsula before the Expulsion of the Jews in 1492. The term *cantillatores* comes from the Latin word *cantillare*, meaning "to chant," and refers to those who specialized in the melodic recitation of the Hebrew Bible and liturgical texts.

Their primary function was to lead the congregation in the chanting of prayers and scriptural readings during synagogue services. Cantillatores were highly skilled in the art of *trop*, a form of melodic embellishment applied to the Hebrew text, which enhanced its musical and emotional expression. The melodies they used were often passed down orally through generations, though some were later documented in written form.

The cantillatores were integral to the preservation of Sephardic Jewish musical traditions, which blended Hebrew liturgical chants with influences from the surrounding Christian and Muslim cultures. Their work was particularly important in maintaining the distinct identity of Sephardic Judaism, as their chants became a central part of communal worship and cultural expression.

After the Expulsion from Spain and Portugal, many cantillatores and their descendants migrated to other parts of Europe, North Africa, and the Ottoman Empire. Their traditions continued to evolve, adapting to new environments while retaining core elements of their original style. Today, the legacy of the cantillatores lives on in the preserved recordings and performances of Sephardic liturgical music, as well as in the efforts of modern scholars and musicians to revive and study these ancient traditions.