[HANASHIR:9789] Re: Jewish choirs

[Freedabet <Freedabet...>]

You mentioned Avinu Malkeinu and Sim Shalom.  I assume you use piano 
accompanyment with them, but have you ever heard or sung them with a great 
synagogue organist?  I have, and it is a spiritual experience which no one 
would ever intrepret as 'churchy.'

Michael

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

> Date: Monday, 10-Sep-01 02:36 PM
> 
> From: Ilana and Mark Axel      \ Internet:    (axelsinchicago (at) 
> yahoo(dot)com)
> To:   Hanashir Mail Server     \ Internet:    (hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org)
> 
> Subject:  [HANASHIR:9782] Re: Jewish choirs
> 
> Sender: owner-hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> Reply-to:       hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> To:     hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> This is a very interesting discussion for me. This is
> why the music program at Shir Hadah Reconstructionist
> Synagogue in the Chicago burbs is so varied. I grew up
> loving Temple choirs and the Rabbi grew up loving only
> summer camp singalongs. We combine, hopefully, the
> best of all worlds as much as possible. Our music fare
> for High Holidays includes Janowski's Avinu Malkenu
> and Sim Shalom, as well as a dozen pieces by Taubman,
> Friedman, Nichols, Recht, Maseng, Cotler, Klepper,
> Smilow - the only requirements being that the pieces
> are appropriate and inspiring in their liturgical
> placements, and that we have the (all volunteer
> members except for myself a professional)musical
> personnel to make the music reasonably well performed.
> Having been inspired this summer at Hava Nashira and
> at CAJE, I am training my singers to be
> performer/presenters, as well as songleader helpers.
> This helps the congregation learn new songs more
> quickly - choir members are always familiar with the
> songs beforehand, and are "planted" either sitting in
> the congregation with their families, or up front with
> the guitar playing leaders.
> Most of our singers came for the "camp" music - but
> having been presented with the additional opportunity
> to sing good Jewish choral music, they won't give it
> up! And the congregation seems to appreciate the
> variety and the different flows of spiritual or
> community musical moments.
> And yes, it does take a ton of work!
> I would like to note though: Organ accompaniments are
> generally unappreciated by myself and our members. I
> think there is a movement to create our own unique
> Jewish synagogue music culture and organ music seems
> to make people laugh, or make them uncomfortable, even
> in our open and liberal musical environment. It falls
> just too close to the feeling of being in church. This
> may be a more difficult conflict in Reform synagogues
> than in Reconstructionism. No member has ever asked me
> to program music with organ in it.
> Anyone interested more in the music activities at Shir
> Hadash is invited to contact me privately - after the
> holidays please! I appreciate all the help I get from
> this list!
> Shana Tova to you all,
> Ilana Axel
> Music Director/Singer/Songleader
> Shir Hadash Reconstructionist Synagogue
> Northbrook. Illinois
> 
> --- ItaSara (at) aol(dot)com wrote:
> > 
> > In a message dated 9/10/01 2:59:22 AM,
> > hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org writes:
> > 
> > << Since choirs (and organs) are few and far between
> > in synagogues these days 
> > >>
> > 
> > Yes, and my opinion is that this is very
> > unfortunate. Maybe the trend is 
> > getting away from the big sound professional choir,
> > but eliminating 
> > opporuntiies to sing and learn Jewish music on a
> > regular basis is eliminating 
> > the needs that some congregants have; I know because
> > I am one of them. I grew 
> > up in temple choirs and I feel  spiritually able to
> > contribute in this 
> > setting. Even though not everyone can be pleased all
> > of the time, there is is 
> > much beautiful liturgical music, old and new, that
> > goes unnoticed and unsung 
> > because of a desire that everything must be singable
> > and familiar these days. 
> > (and some of it is boring week after week!) Not all
> > music is suited to just 
> > to one soloist. Some variety is good, and choirs and
> > talented members can 
> > help provide that variety and congregational
> > leadership. Jewish musicians 
> > would like to have an outlet for their work in the
> > jewish setting, but often 
> > one finds them in churches instead because there is
> > still a need for singers 
> > and musicians there. There is no one easy answer,
> > and I know that the whole 
> > topic is controversial. but I look at the need for
> > some choir activitiy in 
> > the temple as a form of participation, enjoyment,
> > and spirituality. Even paid 
> > participation might have its place.   
> > 
> > ------------------------ hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> > -----------------------+
> >