[HANASHIR:9968] anthems

[ItaSara <ItaSara...>]

In a message dated 10/1/01 2:58:41 AM, hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org writes:

<< 
Thanks Raquel.  I have never heard the term anthem used in any Reform or
Reconstrucitonist synagogue I have been affiliated with. >>

That is very interesting. I was brought up in reform synagogues and always 
heard the word anthem used from the time I started in the choir at a young 
age. I just accepted it at the time as part of the service routine. My guess 
is that since up until recently the organist and/or choir director was not Je
wish, that the word anthem game into popular use. My understanding always 
has been that the anthem was a transition point between the Rabbi’s sermon 
and the rest of the service. It also gave the choir an opportunity to sing 
something on its own that was usually but not always related to the sermon or 
Torah portion. And it gives the congregation a moment to reflect and sit back 
and listen. I look at it today a bit differently in that in addition to all 
the reasons give for having an anthem, it is also an opportunity to sing and 
introduce new liturgical music written by Jewish composers; otherwise some of 
this music is not likely to be  heard by a congregation. However, in 
synagogues where there is no choir, there is a lot of music to be sung by the 
soloist and so an anthem is not always something the soloist  may want to add 
to the repetoire except maybe on special occassions.
 Ellen Lerner
    Rochester, Ny


------------------------ hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org -----------------------+