[HANASHIR:6326] Re: solo singing

[Freedabet <Freedabet...>]

I went to a choir concert at a local synagogue where much of it consisted of 
solos and duets by the choir members.  All choir members were encouraged to 
do a solo.  Some were wonderful, some were a bit painful, but the point was 
to have them get up and sing in front of people.  In that spirit, and in a 
concert setting, it was beautiful.  I think that during a service (especially 
if it's the only service as opposed to an alternative service) this could 
quickly become too much of an imposition on the congregation.  

Michael
-------- REPLY, Original message follows --------

> Date: Monday, 19-Jun-00 07:34 PM
> 
> From: ItaSara (at) aol(dot)com          \ America Online: (ITASARA)
> To:   Hanashir Mail Server     \ Internet:    (hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org)
> 
> Subject:  [HANASHIR:6315] Re: solo singing
> 
> Sender: owner-hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> Reply-to:       hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> To:     hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> Thank you all for your comments. They have been very helpful. I didnt mean 
> for this to turn into a discussion of Jewish vs non Jewish singers although 
> it is a related issue.  I am more concerned presently on your opinions 
about  
> a place for solos (in addition to the cantor soloist or cantor role)  on a 
> regular basis for temple volunteers who feel they want to contribute in 
that 
> way.  I am well aware that there are no simple answers, but it is 
interesting 
> and helpful to  what other Reform sysnagogues do in this regard and how 
some 
> of the pros and cons I originally mentioned are handled in different 
> situations. Ill repeat my original letter below. Thank you.
> 
> <<I would be interested to hear how you feel about talented congregational 
> 
> singers having the opporunity to  have solo parts during a service or 
hiring 
> 
> professional singers. 
> 
> 
> This has been an ongoing point of controversy for a a long time at the 
> 
> synagogue where I sub for our cantorial soloist (a paying position)  and 
sing 
> 
>  every Shabbat morning as a volunteer choir member.  Although we now have a 
> 
> part time cantorial soloist, the issues were present when we had a full 
time 
> 
> cantor. There are pros and cons to both sides of the issue. We have made 
> 
> changes over the years that I would consider improvements from hiring only 
> 
> non-Jewish professionals in the past to the present where most of us are 
> 
> volunteers. 
> 
> 
> Here are some of the points involved involving two related issues. What  
are 
> 
> your thoughts?
> 
> 
> Pros for more solo opportunities and/or hiring professionals: 
> 
> 
> 1. Singers like to have the opportunity to express themselves in song.
> 
> 2. Singers feel spiritually moved to be part of the service by 
participating 
> 
> with
> 
>     a solo, just as congregational members participate in readings; an 
outlet 
> 
> for
> 
>     lay participation and lay/clergy cooperation.
> 
> 3. It adds some individuality to the service.
> 
> 4. Some congregants are proud to have fellow congregants participate in 
this 
> 
> way
> 
> 5. Its an opportunity for singers to learn music as well as introduce other 
> 
> Jewish  music to the congregants and to the service. Some choir members 
have 
> 
> a fairly
> 
>     good background in Jewish music and can 
> 
> 6. In a musical community like the one I live it, often Jewish singers 
> 
> professi singers who    have such opportunities in the church setting go on 
to
> 
> have musical careers. In a  time when we would like to keep Jews in Judaism 
> 
> and not in secularism, musical  opportunites might be one way.
> 
> 
> Cons to solo singers and/or professionals:
> 
> 1.  The cantor or cantor soloist is paid to lead the congregation, the 
choir 
> 
> is backup
> 
>     and represents  the congregation.
> 
> 2.  Some volunteers want to sing solo, but they really dont sing well.
> 
> 3.  Congregational volunteers who are good singers resent it when 
> 
> professionals are
> 
>     hired to sing the same music, and professionals usually expect and do 
get 
> 
> solos   
> 
>     (whether Jewish or not).
> 
> 4.  Some congregants only want to hear a cantor or cantor soloist and see 
no 
> 
> reason
> 
>     for a choir at all or for individual solos.
> 
> 5.  oneupmanship and resentment occur between choir members and between 
choir 
> 
>     members     and clergy and between choir members who volunteer and 
choir  
>   
> 
> members who are     paid (depending on the circumstances.)
> 
> 6.  Focus is lost with solo parts so the service becomes more of a 
> 
> performance and 
> 
>     less consistent. (although the individual singer may want to perform, I 
> 
> dont 
> 
>     myself feel that the result is a performance.)
> 
>  
> 
> >>
> 
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