[HANASHIR:10902] Re: Adon Olam to Rock Around the Clock

[Alan Halpern <alan...>]

A couple of thoughts.

First, this is an extremely interesting discussion, and one worth provoking
within a congregation, certainly the worship and music committee(s).  I've
been thinking about leading music at a service in which I would use a
variety of melodies for a single prayer or text to evoke different moods at
different points in the service.  It's also a way to highlight the
relationship between text and music for the congregation.  Adon Olam is the
one I know the most tunes for.

As I thought about this yesterday, I could start with the "traditional" Adon
Olam (Gerovitch) which feels like a Protestant hymn, read the translation
together in English, and then use the call-and-repeat version (composer
unknown to me), come out of the silent prayer with Cardozo, and conclude
with "rock around the clock" as a lead in to Oneg Shabbat.  I also like the
French Sephardic version, which could be part of the closing series.  Making
this worshipful and not empirical might be a challenge.  (I'm open to
suggestions.)

In each case, the melody evokes a different reading of the text.  And each
may provoke a different reaction from the congregation.  (Local minhag might
argue for leaving out one version or another.)

Shirona, some of these settings will last and others will have only
transient power.  There is good music and bad music from every age, after
all, and the good stuff tends to last.  (Let's hope there is never an
exhibit of Elvis on velvet at the Louvre!)

Second, Shirona, I will guarantee you there will be a rock and roll setting
of the Sh'ma if there isn't one already.  If Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger
can turn 60 join the AARP, then someone will compose rock and roll
"standard" for Sh'ma, and in 100 years, it will have completely replaced the
pavane we use now.

l'shalom

Alan
alan (at) halpern(dot)com
  -----Original Message-----
  From: Shirona [mailto:shirona (at) bellatlantic(dot)net]
  Sent: Monday, February 11, 2002 10:46 PM
  To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
  Subject: [HANASHIR:10897] Re: Adon Olam to Rock Around the Clock