[HANASHIR:10886] Re: Adon Olam to Rock Around the Clock

[Alan Halpern <alan...>]

Shirona makes a great point, and without being frivolous, I'd like to
respond but also recognize the validity of her point.

Rock around the Clock is an extremely celebratory tune.  To praise God with
that much enthusiasm is a great thing.  To offer praise, "around the clock,"
whether 24 hours of they day, 12 months of the year or all the years of our
lives is a very Jewish intention.  And God is called, at times, our "Rock."
Out of context, I can make "Rock around the Clock," an anthem in itself.

That said, the style of the song and its secular connotations are more
appropriate in some settings than others.  I'm reasonably sure this is a
setting that originated at Camp, where the kids were having fun (and may not
have understood the words).  It might be appropriate for a Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
I wouldn't choose it for High Holidays or a service from the Union Prayer
Book (although the contrast has some appeal <grin>).  In some settings, it
will offend sensibilities.

At the Biennial, I heard a Rabbi and musicologist talk about a congregation
in which the chazzan led a version of a prayer (maybe Adon Olam) to the tune
of Adeste Fidelis.  The congregation was appalled.  The tune carried too
much baggage.  The congregation met in a church and feared giving offense.
And it was near Christmas.  The chazzan was chastened and hasn't repeated
the performance.  In other words:  consult your minhag and think about what
you're trying to accomplish.  But there are good things to be gained by
borrowing music for worshipful purposes.

One of the great things about Adon Olam is that the poetry does fit so many
different musical settings.  And any setting that brings the words and
meaning to life in a way to highlight a different aspect of the poetry is
probably relevant in some setting.  I'd trade a dirge-like, traditional Adon
Olam (where no one understand the words and no one appears to be praising
God at all) for a rousing rendition to the tune of Rock around the Clock, so
long as people approach it in a worshipful way.

Alan
Alan Halpern
alan (at) halpern(dot)com

-----Original Message-----
From: Shirona [mailto:shirona (at) bellatlantic(dot)net]
Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2002 9:46 PM
To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
Subject: [HANASHIR:10883] Re: Adon Olam to Rock Around the Clock


With apologies in advance for being  serious and "heavy" about this
subject -

Adon Olam happens to be one of the most beautiful, majestic, awe-inspiring
works of poetry about G-d in the Hebrew language - trying to define the
indefinable Creator. Has anyone paid attention to what these words say?
Just because the perfect structure of this poem makes it possible to sing to
almost ANY tune -  doesn't mean we should do it - insensitively.  We might
ask ourselves whether a specific melody does justice to what the words
express - otherwise, why not just sing "Rock around the clock" as is!  That
tune goes very well with - those words, and leave G-d out of it.

Sorry, and please don't take this personally - it's a question of personal
taste and judgment.

Shirona
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Singer, Songwriter and Teacher of Jewish Music
 Visit my website at    www.shirona.com
Listen to my music at www.mp3.com/shirona
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

----- Original Message -----
From: "B Shapiro" <bgolfin (at) cox(dot)net>
To: <hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org>
Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2002 8:36 PM
Subject: [HANASHIR:10882] Adon Olam to Rock Around the Clock


> Anyone have the chords?
>
> thanks,
> Beau Shapiro
>
>
>



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