[HANASHIR:4984] Re: Michael Isaacson's ``L'maaseih V'reicheet

[Andy Curry <acurry...>]

Adrian, thanks for the posting and the topic.

As one who has tried the "sing along with the recording" technique, I know
that musical disaster will surely occur in at least some of these
synagogues, and moments of embarassment in most of them.  Most singers

I have less discomfort with the halachic issues than with the spiritual
ones, primarily this one:
Is it worship?  Will the parts of the congregations who are not cantors and
choir members be active participants?  If the answers to either of these
questions is NO, then this project's proper setting is a concert.  This is
the main reason why I no longer sing in synagogue choirs during worship
services.

I've heard people refer unwittingly to the congregation as "the audience",
and sometimes I'm asked "When does the program begin?"  (Not the SERVICE,
but the PROGRAM).  It is a real shande that we, the people who gave prayer
to the world, think in these terms.

Thanks for allowing me to vent.

Andy

At 08:14 AM 1/19/00 -0600, you wrote:
>Not everyone on this list may be familiar with this project, so, a little
>background:
>
>On Jan 21, Shabbat Shirah, about 40 synagogues across the U.S., Reform,
>Conservative and Reconstructionist will premiere, simultaneously, a new work
>by Michael Isaacson called ``L'maaseih V'reicheet-- To Recreate the World:,
>a service of about 20 pieces.
>
>At each synagogue, cantors and children's choirs will performed to the
>accompaniment of a pre-recorded CD of orchestral and choral arrangements.
>
>The piece was co-commissioned by the involved synagogues, with the effort
>spearheaded by Cantor Jay Frailich of University Synagogue in West Los
>Angeles. To finance the $100,000 project, each of the participating
>synagogues contributed $2,500.
>
>Now, while this is a wonderfully innovative and exciting idea, and while I
>have great respect for Mr. Isaacson and his music, am I the only one
>troubled by the advent of Milli Vanilli in our synagogues? And by a
>"brotherhood" effort that uses a technique that would deliberately exclude
>orthodox and more traditional conservative congregations from participating?
>Perhaps an a capella work might have been more suited to such an effort.
>Just my two shekels. I open the floor for debate.
>
>Adrian
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Adrian A. Durlester  -  durleste (at) home(dot)com
>http://members.home.net/durleste/
>Student, Vanderbilt University Divinity School
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>Music Director, Congregation Micah, Nashville, TN http://www.micahnash.org/
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>
>
>
>
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