The Copernic synagogue is the only synagogue in France where all the religious services are accompanied by an organ, a mixed professional choir and a ‘hazan with an exceptional voice.
The musical tradition of the ULIF Copernic is derived from the so-called “consistorial” music, liturgical corpus impulsed from the nineteenth century by the Consistory of the time, thanks to French composers such as Samuel Naumbourg or Samuel David. These composers had to write on score the traditional melodies hitherto transmitted orally, or to compose original musics. To these compositions were added those of their successors, such as Jules Franck or Leon Algazi, as well as those of foreign composers, the most famous of which is Louis Lewandowski. This liturgical tradition is enriched by some works of Salomon Rossi, very innovative for the time (Venice, around 1600) as well as many Sephardic melodies.
