Sequences Cantillation

1 sequences

1.1 groups

1.1.1 first level phrases
1.1.2 second level phrases
1.1.3 third level phrases
1.1.4 fourth level phrases

sequences

the rules governing sequence of cantillation marks follows.

groups

the following sequences commonly found:

first level phrases

(mercha) tifcha (mercha) sof-pasuq (sephardic maarikh tarkha maarikh sof pasuq)
the group occurs @ end of each pasuq (verse), , includes sof-pasuq @ minimum. either or both of mercha s may omitted.
(mercha) tifcha (munach) etnachta (sephardic maarikh tarkha shofar holekh atna)
one of common groups, can appear once in each pasuq. tifcha can appear without mercha, mercha cannot appear without tifcha (or other following disjunctive). etnachta can appear without munach, munach cannot appear without etnachta (or other following disjunctive). munach-etnachta can appear without mercha-tifcha, mercha-tifcha cannot appear without munach-etnachta (or etnachta on own).

second level phrases

(mahpach) pashta (munach) zaqef qaton (sephardic mehuppakh qadma shofar holekh zaqef qaton)
one of common groups. pashta can appear without mahpach, mahpach cannot appear without pashta. alternatively, yetiv can appear on own in place of pashta. zaqef qaton can appear without munach, munach cannot appear without qaton (or other following disjunctive).
zaqef gadol
not part of group, replaces zaqef qaton sequence.
(munach) zarqa (munach) segol (sephardic mehuppakh zarqa mehuppakh segolta)
zarqa ever found before segol; munach may precede either one.
shalshelet
not part of group, replaces segol sequence. occurs 4 times in torah, , @ beginning of verse.

third level phrases

munach | munach revia (sephardic shofar holekh | shofar holekh revia)
the following combinations occur: revia on own; munach revia; darga munach revia; munach-with-pesiq revia; munach-with-pesiq munach revia. (munach pesiq disjunctive, separate munach proper, , known munach legarmeh, munach on own.)
darga tevir
tevir found either alone or preceded darga or mercha. darga precedes other combinations (e.g. darga munach revia).
mercha-kefula (sephardic tere ta’ame)
occasionally preceded darga, on own. occurs 5 times in torah, , once in haftarah. function appears similar tevir.

fourth level phrases

qadma v azla
this pair known such when found together, , may precede mahpach, revia group or tevir group. qadma can found without azla before mahpach, , azla without qadma known azla-geresh or geresh. gershayim on own fulfils same function qadma v azla, in can precede either mahpach, revia group or tevir group.
pazer
not considered part of group, followed telisha qetannah or telisha gedolah. may preceded 1 or more munachs.
telisha qetannah/gedolah (sephardic talsha/tirtsa)
not considered part of group, appears individually, after pazer. precedes qadma.
yerach ben yomo qarnei farah
the rarest group of all. occurs once in whole torah, in parashah masey, on words alpayim b ammah (two thousand cubits). equivalent munach pazer.




^ http://www.divreinavon.com/pdf/shalshelet1.pdf symbolic interpretation of shalshelet