[HANASHIR:6723] Re: article on "cool" Jewish music

[Shirona <b.s.kaufman...>]

Thank you Rachelle for sharing this illuminating article on "cool" Jewish 
music.  A bit tough to follow at times, but raises very important questions for 
us to ponder - those of us who engage in the creation of new Jewish music.

Jonathan Schorsch cautions us against the ironic, sarcastic aspect inherent in 
"cool".  At the end of the article he quotes a lost tale by the Ba'al Shem Tov 
which teaches an important lesson:  That sarcasm, along with irrational anger, 
are the two traits that obstruct one from progressing on the spiritual path...  
 "Irony and especially sarcasm imply disdain, haughtiness, mockery, negation, 
and act as corrosive agents".  He then goes on to say - "cool Judaism harnesses 
transgression for the sake of mere posture, even for profits."

Trying to be "cool" is merely a cheap-shot, a seemingly "safe environment".   
If you're "cool" you're immune to criticism, to being judged,  in my opinion.  
"Cool" for the sake of being cool is often a cover-up for lack of originality, 
lack of talent and good musicianship.   True value and fine quality,  good 
music that will last -  seldom result from an "attempt" to be cool.   Same goes 
for trying to appeal to children, in a desperate effort to make Judaism more 
"attractive" for them.  Yes, we're living in America,  but do we have to reduce 
our sacred texts to a "Hee-Haw  'round up the cattle" kinda vibe for our kids 
to "get it"???

There needs to be some kind of relevance between the Hebrew texts and the 
melody.  The German drinking song we use in Conservative synagogues for "Ein 
Keloheinu" never did it for me.  In fact, it was exactly that that drove me to 
start composing music to prayers in the first place.  I asked myself what is 
inherently "spiritual" in music.  Why are some melodies simply "magical" - even 
without words... A Niggun can elevate the soul to a very high level...   

I spent allot of time studying Hassidic music - the real stuff.  Especially 
Bresslav music, which I found to be the most beautiful - and the most RELEVANT 
to the text. ( Thanks, Danny...  )  Those guys, two hundred years ago were 
certainly not trying to be cool - they were trying to create music that 
elevates our sacred texts to a higher level.  That is a good place to come 
from.   There's allot of good music "out there" - we can bring it down to this 
world... with the proper KAVANAH.

Shirona




-----Original Message-----
    From: Rachelle and Howard Shubert <notfranz (at) total(dot)net>
    To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org <hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org>
    Date: Monday, August 21, 2000 1:27 PM
    Subject: [HANASHIR:6717] Re: article on "cool" Jewish music
    
    
    My apologies for neglecting to give the source of this article.  It is from 
a publication called Tikkun.  The web-address is below:
    http://www.tikkun.org/0003/0003schorsh.html
    
    Rachelle Shubert