[HANASHIR:7983] RE: Percussion

[Rachelle and Howard Shubert <notfranz...>]

It's extremely interesting to hear about the percussion and other 
instrumentation used in services.  I would imagine that less formal, younger 
and smaller congregations might be most receptive to these variations.  Here at 
our Montreal synagogue, with organist and professional choir (who alternate 
between our shul and a church) hidden in a loft and watching on closed circuit 
TV,  it took a fair amount of courage for me to introduce my djembe (an African 
drum held between the knees, somewhat resembling a doumbek), tambourine and 
claves.  I waited for a smaller service in our chapel, which is less formal 
than our beautiful sanctuary.  I thought that the congregation would either 
love it or hate it.  And guess what?  It went over quite well and added a bit 
of excitement to the music.  

Rachelle Shubert