[HANASHIR:5047] Re: Performance vs. praying

[Ellen Allard <ellen...>]

Dear All,

Though it is quite rewarding to have people in the congregation sing when I
songlead (is there another word for it when you are not a cantor?) at
services, I have also come to understand, from talking with those very same
people, that there are times when they just like to listen. And it is often
in the listening to others sing, whether it be the cantor or songleader, or
others in the congregation, that personal praying can take place. I know it
is not convenient, as we would love them to sing with us. However, I do not
believe it is our place to expect them to sing just because we want them to.
Nor do I believe that it is a failure on our part if they don't sing. It
might just be that they are praying in their own fashion, and it just
doesn't happen to meet our time table.

I used to feel uncomfortable about the thought that I might be performing at
services, something I did not want to be doing. I didn't want people to come
to services to "listen" to me perform. Nor did I want to perform. My goal
was (and continues to be) to use song for my own prayer AND to help others
in their prayer by providing a "singing" model that might encourage them to
sing or give them a prayerful experience through listening to song. Once I
got past the idea that they were listening to me perform AND realized that
my singing (whether they were singing or not) was part of their entire
experience, I began to be more accepting of those who choose not to sing.

During the Tot Shabbat services that I lead, I share the following "echo"
prayer with the congregation. It always reminds me that there are many
different ways to pray. Leading a congregation, one naturally hopes that the
choreography of the service will be done in such a way that all present will
sing, or read responsively, or be silent...at the same time. But I've come
to realize that this is an unrealistic expectation. When it works, it's
great. But when there are people who are "doing" their own thing, so be it.
Whatever the rest of the congregation might be doing, might just very well
be helping those "non-participating" people access their own private prayer.
And whatever experience they're having, who are we to say that it's not
"religious" or "spiritual"?

Sometimes we pray alone (echo); sometimes we pray with others (echo)
Sometimes we pray out loud (echo); sometimes we pray silently (echo)
Sometimes we pray with words (echo), sometimes we pray with deeds (echo)
Sometimes we we pray with song (echo), sometimes we pray with dance (echo)
Sometimes we pray in English (echo), sometimes in Hebrew (echo)
However we pray, God (echo), we pray you¹ll always hear us (echo)

Ellen Allard
Worcester, MA
http://www.peterandellen.com

----------
>From: Chazzzan (at) aol(dot)com
>To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
>Subject: [HANASHIR:5040] Performance vs. praying
>Date: Mon, Jan 24, 2000, 1:08 AM
>

> This issue has come up in this forum in the past.  But in the light of these
> new "performance" or "liturgical concert" pieces, it begs to be answered.  In
> my opinion, having members of the congregation who are tapping their feet or
> bobbing their heads in time with the music is very nice.  However, I don't
> know if I would consider that a "religious" experience or even a "spiritual"
> one.  I want them SINGING!!!!!!!
>
> Regarding choirs, I believe that a choir and a particular arrangement can be
> handled in such a way that they motivate the congregants to sing along,
> getting fully involved with the melodies, the words and the feeling of
> Shabbat.
>
> On Erev Shabbat, I had the good fortune to join a few hundred locals at Beth
> El of Stamford, Connecticut to enjoy the Friday Night Live service of Craig
> Taubman.  It was phenomenal!  He had us up, clapping and moving in the
> aisles.  What great ruach flowed through the large sanctuary!
>
> Brian Serle
>
>
>
>
>
>

------------------------ hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org -----------------------+