[HANASHIR:5991] Re: Taping AND Edelweiss

[Adrian Durlester <durleste...>]

Oh, Andy, your thoughts are well-meaning but off the mark. If what you surmise 
is correct, then one can never pray properly when one is songleading, leading a 
service as a rabbi, canttor, soloist, musical director, choir, etc.

The hours I spent editing and copying and making duplicates of tapes of Hava 
Nashira-that, I consider, a service to Gd, and done in praise of Gd. Thus, 
doing the actual recordings at HN is also part of serving and praising Gd.

When Debbie, or Craig, or Jeff or Josee or Donny et al play their guitars and 
sing, leading (or joining) us in worship, some part of them must be remembering 
what to play, what to sing, etc. (I do know from experience that sometimes 
little epiphanal things happen-at HN and elsewhere, I have gotten from one end 
of a sung prayer to another on my keyboard withoiut having any idea what 
happened or what I did. But the fact remains-something inside me knew what to 
do and had to do it. Or something outside me channeled its energy through me.)

If all we need to do is remember in our minds, then why did Gd give us a 
written Torah? Why do we have a hagaddah and a seder? Why have siddurim (which, 
by the way-according to Jewish tradition-one is supposed to pray looking at the 
words, and NEVER from memory.)

Prayer and praise happen in many ways, in many situations. When I serve as a 
musician at services, even with the distractions of playing an instrument, 
thinking about what comes next, etc. - every one of those thoughts is part of 
praising Gd. Gd created us. Created us as doers, as thinkers, as capable of 
multiple thoughts and actions simultaneously. We will never be as successful as 
that as Gd is, and yes, it is good to focus our prayer as much as possible.

There are times when I want to pray with no distractions, to put my entire 
heart, mind and body into the act of praying or praising Gd. And it is good to 
do so. But it is not the only way to pray, nor the only way one can pray fully 
and appropriately.

Hava Nashira has become a workshop with two somewhat different foci. It's 
initial and primary purpose is trainign song leaders. Now, many people come 
(and keep coming) for the, dare I say, spiritual, component. But it is a 
learning and teaching environment. It is appropriate for people to use whatever 
means aids them in their learning process, so long as it can be done without 
disturbing others.

Pray as you see fit, Andy, but don't presume to judge how others do it.

Adrian



Adrian A. Durlester - durleste (at) home(dot)com
http://members.home.net/durleste/
Editor, Bim Bam, Torah Aura Productions
http://www.torahaura.com/
Music Director, Congregation Micah, Brentwood, TN
http://www.micahnash.org/
Hebrew Instructor, The Temple, Nashville, TN
Owner, Hanashir Jewish Songleaders list/web site
http://uahc.org/hanashir/
Co-Owner, L-Torah Discussion List
Student, Vanderbilt Divinity School M.T.S. Program






-----Original Message-----
From:    Andy Curry acurry (at) CellNet(dot)com
Sent:    Tue, 09 May 2000 09:55:02 -0700
To:      hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
Subject: [HANASHIR:5990] Re: Taping AND Edelweiss


My response to the idea of taping services is this:  How can one put
his/her entire energy into praising Hakadosh Baruch Hu when he/she is
concerned about making a record of the service?  It is hard enough to pray
when there are no distractions.

Does your synagogue allow congregants to take photographs during services?
I doubt it.

One of the most important words in Judaism is "zayin-khaf-resh" - remember.
 Even if I HAD a tape of HN services, I wouldn't listen to it because I
prefer to REMEMBER, not to reproduce.

And the discussion of Edelweiss and every other non-worship song we are
asked to sing at bnai mitzvah services is of a similar shape.  The cantor
has an opportunity to remind people that the point of becoming bar mitzvah
is to demonstrate loyalty to (love for) God.  Save the Broadway tunes and
the videotaping for the party!

Kol tuv,
Andy

At 06:02 PM 5/8/00 EDT, you wrote:
>Noah, the objections raised about taping at services was NOT because it was 
>being taped on Shabbat.  Audio- and videotaping and 
>microphone/amplifier/keyboard use on Shabbat were not being questioned.
>
>The original concern was voice by Debbie and other leaders that the the 
>clicking on and off of tape recorders disturbs the beauty and flow of the 
>services.  It would be impossible to recreate the same spontaneity and 
>certainly group singing and prayer with some special non-service session.
>
>Instead, I was suggesting that we all get tapes with 90 minutes on a side,
so 
>we can start them before services, and not interrupt the service by turning 
>the tapes over.
>
>Or -- let's all just bring CD-RW machines and avoid this whole problem.
>
>However, I would NEVER have wanted to miss some of the incredible melodies I 
>have learned and picked up from others at HN services over the years.  This 
>music has enhanced the lives of so many others.  Heck, I even have a VERY 
>Orthodox shul using Debbie's tunes for Havdalah!  If I cannot tape, I will 
>wear a "wire"!
>
>Brian Serle
>Milwaukee, Wisconsin
>
>
>
>
*******************************
Andy Curry
CellNet Data Systems
11146 Thompson Ave
Lenexa KS 66219
Office: 913-312-4739
Facsimile: 913-312-4701
Home : 816-363-8381
E-Mail: acurry (at) cellnet(dot)com
*******************************


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