[HANASHIR:9997] Re: Anthems

[Rosalie Boxt <cantorboxt...>]

Regardless of what you call it, I am of the opinion that a "song" should
be used if the sermon, service, world events call for it.  As with
everything else we do in tefillah, it should be in conjunction with
everything else (ie not doing a zippy V'shamru after a weepy reading --
if you and your accompanist are able to change rapidly, or you and your
other ba'alei tefilah really prepare ahead).

On most Shabbatot I do not sing after the sermon.  Some weeks it is
informal, a Torah study, other times a speaker, or to be honest, I don't
know what the Rabbi is going to speak about before the service .... and
time is an issue.  I'd rather do Hashkiveinu or R'tze, than sing after
the sermon.

However, if there is something that I think screams for a song, a
perfect fit, or I sense that people are going to want to process,
de-program, or just meditate, I will sing something.

My rabbi is of the opinion that the song doesn't have to fit perfectly
(I kept nagging him for High Holiday sermon themes and he told me they
didn't have to go.  But I'd prefer they go.  I'd rather sing something
that will keep people in the mindset of the sermon, or if they are still
thinking about it, to hear an unrelated song is jarring .... it either
takes away from the Rabbi's message or question to the congregation, OR
it takes away from the song if they choose to ignore it to focus back on
the sermon.)  I think a well chosen song after the sermon can do
wonders.  It can move the congregation from the intellectual to the
emotional, or from the concentrated to the meditative.  My rabbi and I
created something special, these HiHos, because of his words and my
songs.  That is the goal.

But in terms of weekly, I am relieved that I don't have to do an
"anthem" everyweek, not just for myself, but it takes away from the
power --- things should happen for a reason, not just because ... So I
sing if there's something to say ...

Warmly
Rosalie Will Boxt
cantorboxt (at) erols(dot)com

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