[HANASHIR:5597] Re: wrestling

[Jonathan Gordon <jbgordon...>]

regarding niggunim and passion. dont you think the reason niggunim are so
popular today is because although people want to sing with fervor they dont
have knowlege of the texts, and the niggunim remove that dimension from the
experience. in fact, ill go further.
we musicians love nigunim because it allows us to teach and lead without the
barrier of text, and it helps do our job better in leading large groups of
unfamiliar people. maybe we love nigunim and foist it on our people.
not to trash niggunim, i love them and use them, a lot.
but when people sing ki va moed as a niggun, when shlomo wrote it with words, i
kind of see that as a dumbing down of culture and it bothers me.
i taught it to my fouth and fifth grade choir with the original text, and
singing in thirds, and it works extremely well. but then, in a service, to warm
up the crowd, i sing it as a niggun.
the kids know more becuae i teach them more. so i am responsible, not them,
dont you think?
jonathan gordon

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