De Accentibus et Orthographia, Linguae Hebraicae [“Accents and Spelling of the Hebrew Language”]

REUCHLIN, JOHANNES

Thomas Anshelm

Hagenau

1518

FIRST EDITION. Latin interspersed with Hebrew. Large woodcut device on title and on recto of final leaf. 3pp with the terms of the Hebrew cantillation, lines alternating in red and black, 9pp musical scores (printed from right to left). Extensive use of distinctive Hebrew type. Marginal notations in an early hand.

Adams R-380; Benzing 106; Sendrey 2081.

THE FIRST PRINTED APPEARANCE OF JEWISH MUSIC a transcription of the Biblical Hebrew cantillation (“Trop.”). Reuchlin’s last, refined work on Hebrew grammar, De Accentibus contains a transcription of Hebrew cantillation for four voices. Scholars believe the notation was provided by the eminent Christian Hebraist Johann Boschenstein (1472-1540). On account of his proficiency in the Hebrew tongue, Boschenstein was suspected by his fellow Christians of Jewish parentage. See E. Carlebach, Divided Souls (2001) p. 162. See also B. Sabin Hill, Pierpont Morgan Library Catalogue, Hebraica from the Valmadonna Trust (1989) no. 21.