Music and Jewish Migration - Essay Example

The routes taken during migration for the two centuries have been used to evidence this argument. Two primary routes were used during the two-century Jewish migration, namely: the Southern Asian diaspora route and the Northern diaspora route (Kartomi and Andrew 11). The Jewish group that traveled via the Southern Asian route used sea or land.

Their travel time coincided with approximate spice routes. Homogeneity among migrating persons was highly observed. This group was made up of Jews who were migrating voluntarily. Notably, most of them were family members who were moving and intending to settle in Asia. Moreover, trade-based migration was also evident. There were groups of Jews whose migration into Asia was solely for trade purposes. Contrary to the southern route users, migrants who used the northern route exhibited heterogeneous aspects.

Involuntary migration was also eminent as Kartomi and Andrew maintain. Over the two centuries, the northern route also saw the movement of refugees into East Asia from central and eastern parts of Europe. Interest in East Asia was exacerbated by the Silk Road, following the railway system expansion along the road. The two-century migrations had so much to borrow from historical backgrounds. There were a series of events that were taking place across the world, Asia and Europe being the central focus of Kartomi and Andrew about the Jewish migration.

Historical circumstances essentially informed Jewish migration into Asian territories. In the process, a foundation was set that would see Jewish history encompass musical outcomes relative to their migrations. Jewish history on Asian soil became more musical to a point that it would essentially define their identity. It is in this respect that Kartomi and Andrew’s article examines Jewish migration into Asia for two centuries, and further investigates how music and musical outcomes ended up expressing Jewish identity.

About the two-century migration, Kartomi and Andrew hold that music played a vital role in marking an expressive identity of the Jewish community. This was not only so in Asia, but also in other diasporas beyond Asia. Whilst there might be other informing aspects to music and Jewish identity, Kartomi and Andrew direct their focus on the 1780-1950 migration and the music and musical outcomes therein.