What is Piyut?

What is Piyut? 

A piyut (plural piyutim) is a liturgical poem; however today, the term has come to encompass all sacred poetry written in Hebrew. The earliest piyutim were composed in the first centuries of the Common Era in the land of Israel, but this body of literature grew considerably in Spain, beginning in the 10th century, with prolific paytanim (lit. poets) such as Joseph Ibn Abitur, Solomon Ibn Gabirol, Isaac Ibn Ghayyat, Moses Ibn Ezra, Judah Halevi, and Abraham Ibn Ezra, among others. Although this was a particularly productive period for piyut, the composition and musical arrangement of piyutim has continued until today in Jewish communities around the world. 

While the tradition of piyut began as a way to enhance or adorn Jewish liturgy, it has evolved beyond the scope of formal prayer to serve many dimensions of Jewish ritual and life. Today, piyutim are recited in a variety of contexts: prayer services, individual prayer, life cycle events, communal celebrations, etc. Some piyutim have become a standard part of the Jewish liturgy (e.g. Adon Olam), while others are reserved for particular life cycle events or Jewish holidays and festivals. The body of melodies that accompany piyut texts is incredibly varied and rich, influenced by traditional musics from countries around the world where Jews settled.

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Piyut is a chain of tradition of Jewish culture on every level. It is the melody of the heart and the longing for all of the good that lies within the Jewish world and its many communities
— Ephraim Hazan, Bar Ilan University
Piyut is a prayer that expresses the full range of emotions relating to the divine: praise, thanks, joy, despair, jealousy, anger, longing and awe.
— Haviva Pedaya, Ben Gurion University