[HANASHIR:5607] Re: wrestling

[Rachel Gurevitz <R.Gurevitz...>]

Hi Rachelle,

The Breslov music are prayers, songs, and niggunim that are used within
the chassidic Breslov community.  The easiest way for you to hear them,
learn them and use them is via The Breslov Institute materials, which
I'm certain can be bought via Tara music
etc. (www.jewishmusic.com). They have produced several books with
printed music - melody with chords, and also a large no. of tapes.

Much of the music is wonderful - when I first started songleading I got
into this material, both because I had the tapes at home to learn from,
and it gave me something 'new' and a bit unique to offer the progressive
Jewish community in London that few others seemed to know much about.

Re: Adrian's comments about the ruach of Breslov being more than good
tunes, I agree entirely, yet there is also something special for me
personally about bringing chassidic music into progressive
mainstream.  I don't remember where this semi-quote comes from, but
someone once commented on the rationale behind the chassidic use of
secular folk tunes from Eastern Europe, 'why should the devil have all
the good tunes?'.  Likewise, why should the chassidim have all the good
tunes? (and before anyone jumps on me, I just mean - great music is
great music, I'm not in any way suggesting a link between the chassidim
and the devil!!)

also, while on the topic, about 'niggunim' with words or without.  In
many of the chassidic traditions, from where Carlebach gained much
inspiration, most of the tunes were originally wordless and were written
to sing around the tisch (table) on a Shabbat afternoon with the
Rebbe.  It was only about 150 years into the tradition-early 20th
century and late 19thC, that more chassidic communities starting to put
words to the tunes and associate particular tunes with particular
prayers.  One important reason for this shift was to help the
communities remember which tune was which!  But without words, the tunes
would go on and on, and were a vehicle for meditation and going off into
'other world' (where do you think all those amazing journeys and stories
that take place around the Rebbe's table came from?!)

Hope that's useful,

Rachel Gurevitz

On Wed, 29 Mar 2000, Rachelle and Howard Shubert wrote:

> What is the Breslov music which has been referred to in this discussion?  I
> am imagining it might be like Kol Ha-olam Kulo, Gesher tsar me-od, since I
> believe the words are from Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav.  Is this correct?
> Please tell me more.
> 
> Thanks,
> Rachelle Shubert
> notfranz (at) total(dot)net
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 

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