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[HANASHIR:10752] re: role of the volunteer choir



Maybe your choir music can be more approachable. If it were uplifting, fun and 
the congregation could also sing along with it. Then it would not be 
intimidating. Introduce new songs slowly. Start with one new song each time and 
give it a chance to become part of the service each time. Congregations do not 
like too much change at one time.
Just my feelings on this.

Lynda Casden
Buffalo Grove, IL
847-520-7962

Edward Katz wrote:

> Speaking as a volunteer member of a semi-professional synagogue choir, which 
> sings at every Shabbat and Holiday service (except mid-summer and 
> mid-winter), I think there are times when the presence of the choir can be 
> overwhelming. At Shaare Zion, there are certain prayers which are reserved 
> for the congregation; others seem to be reserved for the choir, and we 
> generally have several versions from which to choose.
>
> When we sing, there is no sound from the congregation; we are in a concert 
> situation. Although it is quite flattering for us to know that the 
> congregation is concentrating on our every note, those members of the 
> congregation who are not used to the power of the choir may be intimidated, 
> and inhibited from responding. Surely there must be a happy medium somewhere.
>
> Edward Katz, M.D.
> Shaare Zion Congregation Choir, Montreal
>
>
>
> On Mon, 28 January 2002, "H & R Shubert" wrote:
>
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> > Subject: [HANASHIR:10722] re: role of the volunteer choir
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> > <DIV>This is a discussion which interests me in particular because I direct 
> > our
> > Temple's volunteer choir and so much of my work is choosing melodies out of 
> > the
> > amazing number of choices we now have.&nbsp; </DIV>
> > <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
> > <DIV>I have settled on a "mixed bag" approach.&nbsp;&nbsp; I love and 
> > respect
> > Lewandowski, Sulzer, Janowski and others, and always include these melodies 
> > in
> > my service music choices&nbsp;but at the same time enjoy bringing in 
> > Taubman,
> > Klepper, Friedman, Zim and all you other talented composers on the 
> > list.&nbsp;
> > There's room in a service for participation and also for listening to 
> > inspiring
> > "performance pieces".&nbsp; I think the new melodies shed a new light on the
> > prayers, keep the&nbsp;service fresh and can provide an open door to younger
> > people.&nbsp; Since we only "perform" once monthly, this leaves the cantor 
> > free
> > to choose more traditional music on other weeks.&nbsp; It's a nice
> > balance.&nbsp; </DIV>
> > <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
> > <DIV>Rachelle Shubert</DIV>
> > <DIV>Lay Cantor Rishon, Temple Israel, Ottawa<BR>Choral Director, Kol Ha 
> > Neshama
> > Choir, Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom, Montreal<BR>Music Educator, Hebrew
> > Foundation School, Dollard des Ormeaux</DIV></BODY></HTML>
>
> __________________________________________________________
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