[HANASHIR:5033] Re: Michael Isaacson

[Meris Ruzow <meris...>]

I agree with you Dan and we had a big discussion about this this past
Shabbat.    Congregants don't have to "sing along" with every little thing
we do!  We are not leading a sing along.... and there have been times, quite
frankly when my colleage would be up on the bimah leading us... and I really
don't want to hear Joe Shmoe singing completely out of tune and very loudly
behind me!   I want to be moved by the music at hand.   I want it to raise
my level of kavanah.   I don't need to participate by singing along in order
to have my spirituality touched or heightened.

So relax everyone..... go with the flow and listen to your congregants.
Watch them and see HOW they're participating; it doesn't always have to be
with their vocal chords.

Meris Ruzow
-----Original Message-----
From: Daniel A. Singer <dasinger (at) umich(dot)edu>
To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org <hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org>
Date: Sunday, January 23, 2000 5:33 PM
Subject: [HANASHIR:5032] Re: Michael Isaacson


>That's great to hear.  I'm glad it worked out so well.  I'd like to know
>what people consider "performance-y."  Does the fact that people weren't
>singing with you mean that they weren't spiritually or musically involved?
>Do we have to have everyone singing with us in order to not make it a
>performance?  Or can we spiritually involve people without making them
>sing?  Certainly if they were bobbing their head, tapping their feet,
>swaying, hitting a tin can, or dancing around the room, they are involved
>somehow, right?  Does the lack of vocal responses to our music make it any
>less of a spiritual occation?  I've actually sometimes felt the most
>connected during the silent meditation portion of our services.  Sometimes
>just appreciating the beauty of silence or the beauty of music can be just
>as uplifting as singing, don't you think?  I think that the choice is up to
>the congregation, but our job is to make them feel comfortable enough to
>involve themselves in any way that brings them closer to their own
>fulfillment. In reality, whether they are singing with us or not, it's
>still a performance, right?  I'm just curious to hear other opinions.  I
>don't know why this particular subject sparked my curiousity.  I don't
>normally reply to this list.
>
>Dan
>
>
>At 11:42 AM 1/23/00 EST, you wrote:
>>Well, the Michael Issacson service Friday night went with our a hitch.
Our
>>combined adult, youth, and junior choirs were wonderful.  There were no
>>problems with the sound system or cues for the recorded accompaniment.
The
>>congregation loved it.  My one concern as a choir member was that it was
too
>>"performance-y" because we were singing and rest of the congregation was
>>listening.  But they were bopping their heads and swaying to the music.
>If I
>>was going to do anything differently, it would have been to more actively
>>invite everyone to join in on the refrains . . . they are very catchy.
I'm
>>looking forward to singing these melodies again and getting the whole
>>congregation involved.
>>
>>Judith Golden
>>Congregation Solel
>>Highland Park, IL
>>jaugshir (at) aol(dot)com
>>
>>
>
>
>***********************************************************************
>Daniel A. Singer H: (734) 397-1950  W: (810) 238-1350 ext. 4253
>1713 Glenshire Dr. Flint Institute of Music, Temple Beth El
>Canton, MI 48188 Bass Voice, Guitar
>***********************************************************************
>"If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
> If I am for myself alone, who am I?
>    If not now, when?"
>***************************************************************************
*
>***
>
>
>

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