[HANASHIR:6427] Re: HN 2000 songs

[Adrian Durlester <durleste...>]

Rabbi Schachet:

I'm not sure what you're disagreeing with. Andy's not saying that people
shouldn't create lead sheets. His comment refers to asking for more than a
melody line and chords lead sheet, which is the question I raised based on
my understanding of Burton's comments. Andy was referring to piano
arrangements and similar advanced and arranged settings.

I am not saying (nor do I think anyone else has said) that notation and
chords are unimportant. Just the opposite. They are VERY important. The
issue is parnassa. Those who create and publish notated music deserve to be
able to make a living at it. The songwriters can, if they choose, shackle
themselves with the work of preparing the transcriptions, or they can turn
to others to do it for them, as Debbie, Craig, and I suspect Wally as well,
have done.

Of course this music finds its way into worship. I would suspect that a
great percentage of it is written for that purpose, and not just for camp
settings and NFTY conventions! I would hope that any synagogue or church
musician who was competent at their craft could manage just fine with a
standard melody line and chords lead sheet and some simple comments on
style, tempo, rhythm, etc. Doesn't matter if the instrument is guitar,
keyboard, organ, or even solo voice unaccompanied.

Which leads me to another rant I'll get to someday: the lack of any formal
certification for synagogue musicians.

As to a Camp Swig CD songbook, well, that's a complicated matter. All the
works are by different composers. Each composer would have to provide their
own transcription or contractually agree to a transcription provided by
another or one commissioned by the publisher (with full rights to final
approval, and, of course, retetention of copyright.)Another issue is that
some of the music may already be published, and sometimes it is hard to
secure permission from the publisher to republish in another collection (or
sometimes they ask exhorbitantly high fees.) I'm sure that with sufficient
time and funding, such a thing could be accomplished, but again, without
"Birthright Jewish Music" it isn't going to happen!

Adrian

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org [mailto:owner-hanashir (at) 
> shamash(dot)org]On
> Behalf Of Rabbi Richard Schachet
> Sent: Sunday, July 02, 2000 10:31 AM
> To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> Subject: [HANASHIR:6426] Re: HN 2000 songs
>
>
> I'm sorry but I have to disagree---
>
> Notation and chords are very important-- Many many congregations use the
> music of song leaders, without a guitar but with a key board.
> Remember, all
> of our singing is not at concerts or around a camp fire-- We use alot of
> this music within our worship.  Also our cantors and cantorial
> soloists may
> not know the melody or how to break something down in to various parts.
>
> When I want to use someone's music I always buy their book- Debby, Craig,
> Cantor Wally and many others all have books with notation.
>
> I would love to see the new CD with music from Camp Swig have a book with
> it.  Such great music and no way to share it with an older congregation.
>
>
> Rabbi Richard Schachet
> Valley Outreach Synagogue
> www.valleyoutreach.com

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