Sephardic Influences on the Ashkenazi Liturgy in London

In this paper I intend to explain how and why Sephardic melodies were adopted into the liturgy of the Ashkenazi Jews in London during the early twentieth century. As part of this account I will discuss synagogue reforms, the creation of the United Synagogue's choral hymnal and the part of Francis Lyon Cohen in the inclusion of Sephardic melodies in the Ashkenazi prayers. Finally, I will present a transcription of current day Ashkenazi usage of the Sephardic tune Az Yashir Moshe as a case study for usage of these Sephardic melodies in Ashkenazi Orthodox synagogues in London of 2004.