Klach Pitchei Chochma - Opening 21

<i>The action of the letters is completed by the musical notes, vowel points and crowns.</i>

<sup class="footnote-marker"><b><small>NOTE</small></b></sup><i class="footnote"> In the Torah scroll, only the Hebrew letters (<i>otiot</i>) are written, in some cases with “crowns” (<i>tagin</i>) over them. The associated vowel signs (<i>nekudot</i>) and musical notes (<i>taamim</i>, the cantillation marks) although unwritten are also integral parts of the oral Torah tradition (the Masoret).</i><b>The completeness and perfection of the letters depend on the musical notes, vowel points and crowns that are joined with them. All of them contribute, each in its own proper way, to the full and complete execution of the intended effect or action. However, the main action comes about through the letters.</b>

<i>Having explained the letters, we will now discuss the musical notes, vowel signs and crowns that are joined with them.</i>

<b>The completeness and perfection of the letters depend on the musical notes, vowel points and crowns...</b>

Each thing has to be examined as an individual root in order to establish whether it is the main factor in itself or merely a component part that comes to complete the main factor, as discussed below. The main action is executed by the letters themselves, while their completion and perfection lies in the musical notes, vowel signs and crowns...

<b>...that are joined with them. All of them contribute, each in its own proper way, to the full and complete execution of the intended effect or action.</b> This is something we can see with our own eyes. As it is below, so it is above. Here below in this world, we see that the letters of the Torah are complete only when accompanied by their accompanying musical notes, vowel signs and crowns. So too above, the notes, vowel signs and crowns are bound up with the letters themselves and serve one and the same purpose.

However, the main action comes about through the letters. Similarly in this world, we see that the written letters alone are sufficient to give us an understanding of the text.