The Song of Miriam in the Tripartite Mahzor
The Tripartite Mahzor, a 14th-century Hebrew manuscript from Ashkenaz, features an illustration of Miriam’s Song, depicting her leading a group of women behind a group of men—an unusual composition in medieval Jewish art. Miriam plays both a flute and a drum simultaneously. While the manuscript generally conveys a negative view of instrumental music, this scene may suggest that in moments of divine redemption— instrumental expression, though perhaps viewed ambivalently, was nonetheless embraced.