[HANASHIR:9651] 23rd Psalm -- A dissenting Opinion

[David A. Blumberg <blumbrg...>]

I agree with all those who suggested Gerald Cohen's "Adonai Ro'i" (copyright
in 1995 by New Jewish Music Press, by the way) as a stunningly beautiful
setting of the 23rd Psalm, but offer this dissent and something else to
consider.
    Sometimes the context within which we want to sing a piece music demands
that we chose not a lushly gorgeous setting but one that is truly beautiful
but really simple.  Sometimes, less IS more.
    In deciding which of the many settings of the 23rd Psalm to sing for
Yizkor (or for a funeral service), I have consistently chosen not to sing
the Gerald Cohen's setting, precisely because it demands too much attention.
Just as "movie music" is best when it unobtrusively molds our mood and
feelings and is wrong and overdone when it calls out from movie, "WOW,
Listen to ME", I think that there are very few times when the Cohen setting
will not be too lush for the context.
    My purpose in a Yizkor service is not to have people not sit up and
notice the wonderful music, but rather to have the people come away from the
service deeply moved for reasons that they cannot fully explain.  That is
why I have almost always opted to use Max Wohlberg's setting of the 23rd
Psalm (Publ. by Ashbourne Music and available in the new Cantors Assembly
"Hazzan's Manual" and in many other places). It is beautiful, highly
evocative, deceptively simple and unassuming, but consistently capable of
operating like an emotional can opener to a vast well of feelings -- all
without calling attention to itself.  I recommend it highly for that reason.
     Save the Cohen for State funerals and concerts.

    David Blumberg
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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