[HANASHIR:10914] Re: 20Re: Adon Olam and Bar Mitzvah?s

[Marsha Fensin <mfsings...>]

Hi all,
    I am in a very small congregation (150 familes) where the Bar/Bat Mitzvah
does a lot of the Friday night service and most of the Saturday morning service.
In fact, they do so much of the service, many of the songs that might be sung on
Saturday morning like Sim Shalom, R'tsei, etc. are read by the student.  That 
was
the minhag of the synagogue before I got here, and it hasn't changed in the 2 
and
one half years I have been here. I usually do a regular Saturday morning service
and choose the music myself based on what the congregation knows and likes 
and/or
appropriate Nusach.  I meet with the family and they are told that they can have
input as to the music, but, most of the time, they have no preferences and like
the regular music of the Saturday morning service.  When a family does have a
preference, it is usually from camp experiences, where they have a favorite
Y'hiyu L'Ratson or Oseh Shalom, etc. and I am usually happy to comply.  I have
never had a request for a "way out" version of a particular prayer, but, if the
music seems appropriate to the mood of the service, I would be happy to comply
with their requests, and if it is not appropriate, I wouldn't hesitate to tell
the family that.
    A note about Adon Olam, especially in a service setting -- there are so many
well composed pieces, that have been written specifically for the synagogue, (
besides Gerowich) that I don't think it's necessary to do the "any melody goes"
versions at all. Bonia Shur's is bouncy and fun as is Shalom Segunda's, and the
South African is a nice slower alternative and Ben Steinberg's is a beautiful
duet setting.  Try some of them. They are great.
Marsha

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