Kadma (Hebrew: קַדְמָא, with variant English spellings) is a common cantillation mark found in the Torah, Haftarah, and other books of the Hebrew Bible. It can be found by itself preceding certain trope groups, or together with a Geresh, in which case, the pair is known as "Kadma-V'Azla."

More information cantillation ...
Kadma
קַדְמָ֨א ֨ אָדָם֙
cantillation
Sof passuk׃  Paseq׀
Etnakhta/atnakh֑  Segol֒
Shalshelet֓  Zakef katan֔
Zakef gadol֕  Tifcha/tarkha֖
Rivia֗  Zarka֘
Pashta֙  Yetiv֚
Tevir֛  Geresh֜
Geresh muqdam [de]֝  Gershayim֞
Karne parah֟  Telisha gedola/talsha֠
Pazer֡  Atnah hafukh [de]֢
Munakh/shofar holekh֣  Mahpach֤
Merkha/ma’arikh֥  Mercha kefula֦
Darga֧  Qadma֨
Telisha qetana/tarsa֩  Yerah ben yomo֪
Ole֫  Illuy֬
Dehi [de]֭  Tsinnorit֮

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Kadma has the same symbol as the Pashta, though Kadma is distinct from Pashta in the placement of the symbol. In a Kadma, the symbol is always placed on the accented syllable, while Pashta is placed on the last letter and also on the accented syllable if the last syllable is not the accented one.[1]

The symbols for Kadma V'Azla are designed to resemble the fingers of an outstretched hand in a curved position.[2]

The Kadma-V'Azla pair occurs 1733 times in the Torah.[3]

The word Kadma is related to the Hebrew קדמה (kedma), east. It is also related to the root ק־ד־ם, front. The combination of these words translates to going away.

Melody

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Kadma V'Azla

The melody for a Kadma V'Azla is a continual string of notes without a break as follows: Thumb


References

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