[HANASHIR:16440] RE: Ah... the double-edged sword

[Adrian A. Durlester <adrian...>]

Brad, Fran, et al:

There is an inherent conflict in what you suggest. You acknowledge that
intelligent people can have differing opinions of what is and is not good,
or likable.

And, yet, in the same context, you suggest that a single individual should
feel responsible to offer appropriate critique.

I don't see how the two can co-exist without the person making the critique:

A) being humble and possessing extreme humility
B) recognizing that their judgment may not be shared by other professionals
C doing a reality check with some peers that they know often had differing
opinions from their own
D) following, as best as possible, the advice of the Chofetz Chayim.

The fact that someone is an experienced, trained professional musician, or
cantor, or songleader, or rabbi, or performer MAY make them an appropriate
judge, but then again, it may not. And, as I have said often on this list
and elsewhere, unfortunately, giving someone a title or a degree doesn't
automatically make them a mensch.

My concern is not about "feather ruffling" or "political correctness" -- my
issue is about personal humility. If one is going to appoint themselves as a
judge over someone else, they'd better be darn sure they are qualified, and
have the common sense and decency to treat the person they are judging
ethically and sensitively.

I am not suggesting that everyone excels at what they are doing. I am not
suggesting that we not criticize. I am not suggesting that we do anyone a
service by not telling them the truth about their skills and abilities.

But I am suggesting that we all need to do some very serious inner
soul-searching before we go out and do those things. And we must be aware,
at all times, when we're doing it, that we, too, are fallible, prejudiced
human beings, and we should temper our pronouncements accordingly.

By the same token, there is an onus upon anyone doing Jewish music to
soul-search and ask themselves if they have the skills they need, and ask
themselves where they could stand some improvement and advice. They should
ask themselves "is there a good reason for me to make a CD, or is it just
vanity?"

I may be in a minority among my peers, but I don't perceive this same crisis
of quality that so many others see. What I do see is a flourishing of
interest, a flowering of passion, both as a result of new technologies, and
as a result of renewed interest in things religious and spiritual.

When these kinds of explosions happen, yes, there is going to be some
variance in skills, in ability, and yes, even in quality. But I have faith
that things will settle down on their own. Amcha will decide what works best
for it, and the process will be self-weeding. I'm not sure it needs any of
us to be weeders. But we are an impatient lot, often unwilling to let things
cycle through the time they need.

If I didn't personally believe that the Jewish music community didn't always
need each other to help each other learn new things, gain new skills, and
yes, even to offer appropriate critique to one another, then I would not
have created and perpetuated this list and the Hava Nashira web site. I
could not be more pleased that this online community has helped many people
to get better at what they do.

And if I felt that only one genre of Jewish music was appropriate, I never
would have insisted that this online community be open to all involved in
Jewish music. I, myself, have always been insistent on a mixture of musical
styles, always trying to find the best of what works in any given situation.

I'm not suggesting we all follow the easy path. We should be taking the path
that requires effort, and that is uphill. However, I am also suggesting that
we not erect an artificial barrier to "keep out the wannabees" because we
perceive that our quality may be diluted. I think the climb is already
difficult enough for most. And ANYONE should be permitted to try and climb
the hill. Some will make it all the way up, and some will not. And I don't
believe all that many people have made it to the top of the hill without
deserving to be there.

Yes, if we see someone struggling to get up the hill that we are convinced,
with all our hearts and with all our humility, that they won't make it any
further up, and are actually hurting themselves in the process, then yes, we
should speak to them. Yet we must always remember that there are many paths
to the top of that hill. The person we dissuade from trying to climb may one
day overtake us. If we learn nothing from history, it is that this can
happen far more often than we think--for Gd, and nature really like to teach
us all lessons in humility and love for one another.

We must trust amcha to be the final arbiter of who deserves to be at the top
of the hill. I know that I do, and I will patiently await their choices,
rather than trying to circumvent the process.  

And I won't even get into the discussion about how often our own awareness
of our own inadequacies is what causes us to turn our sights onto someone
else who is below us on the hill. That's often easier than looking inside.

Always and continually the gadfly,

Adrian

Adrian A. Durlester, MTS
E-mail: adrian (at) durlester(dot)com  URL:www.durlester.com
Director of Education & Congregational Life, Bethesda Jewish Congregation
director (at) bethesdajewish(dot)com
Co-Director, Hazamir/JTAI Choir of Greater DC
Past Conf Chair, CAJE 27, August 4-8, 2002, Trinity University, San Antonio,
TX
List Owner, hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org; Jewish Songleaders/Performers List
Co-Owner, l-torah (at) shamash(dot)org; Liberal Torah Discussion List 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> [mailto:owner-hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org] On Behalf Of Cantor Brad Hyman
> Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2004 2:56 PM
> To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> Subject: [HANASHIR:16435] Ah... the double-edged sword
> 
> 
> Greetings everyone:
> I am very happy that this forum is beginning to broach the
> issue of music and musicianship. I believe it was Adrian in 
> the most recent digest that pointed out quite truthfully that 
> both are subjective. What one person finds contextually 
> viable in a song may be marshmallow fluff to another. What 
> one person finds moving and passionate, another may view as a 
> half-baked attempt at good singing. Unfortunately... as Beth 
> pointed out, it is difficult to address this with musician 
> and audience alike because it is such a sensitive subject... 
> and we have become very delicate around the edges when it 
> comes to any form of critique. We are so P.C., so afraid of 
> ruffling the feathers at the cost of being branded 
> "unsupportive" or "rude" that we suffer together at night in 
> a bed we are clearly making for ourselves to lie in. I am the 
> first one to admit that it still feels bad when someone you 
> know, or someone you don't know, comes from "left field" with 
> those kind "words of advice," or "I'm just telling you this 
> as a friend." No matter how you find out you need work, it 
> can be potentially hurtful or rough. However, and here's the 
> big question: isn't the end result, an overall better level 
> of musical application and appreciation, worth it?? I would 
> rather have someone tell me flat out that I'm way off, than 
> to let me perpetuate a lousy presentation. I think I owe it 
> to the composers, many of which are on this listserv and are 
> friends, to sing the music with respect. Most composers will 
> tell you, again as Beth stated in her last post, that it's 
> not as important to sing the song in the key it was written 
> if it doesn't work for singer and congregation alike. It's 
> more important to make modifications in both key and tempo 
> when appropriate. The first modification, that of key, is 
> easier to gauge that the latter. Slowing down something to be 
> "dramatic" or "soulful" can blow up in your face if you are 
> not capable of being dramatic or soulful. Claiming that you 
> dragged a Shema or sped up Shavua Tov because you "heard 
> someone else do it that way and it worked" is not enough of a 
> good excuse. It may have worked for someone else, but I know 
> that I am never going to be Jeff, Danny, Beth, Rick, Craig, 
> Doug, or any other modern day hero of mine. I may want to 
> sing their stuff in their keys, and my voice may be able to 
> carry it off better than most, but I'm never going to be as 
> successful as I would be if I'm not singing what's best for 
> me and my particular crowd. So many have already responded in 
> much the same way as I have, saying very similar things. I 
> want to close with just a few other thoughts. We may have the 
> freedom and ability to sing niggunim and 'contemporary" music 
> on our bim'ot, but they shouldn't be the only things heard. 
> If your congregations or schools demand that you only sing 
> one kind of music, and that it must be niggunim, contemporary 
> or even shtick-lach, then consider a formal protest for 
> Jewish music's sake. The easiest path comes at a price, as 
> all things do. If you don't work out with some light 
> stretching before heavy exercise, you will destroy your body. 
>  But if you only stick to the light exercising, you will not 
> grow. The same can be said for music and prayer. If we don't 
> stretch ourselves, or make room for the things we are so 
> quick to cast away, then we suffer and the music as a whole 
> suffers. Most importantly, and finally, let us not be so 
> afraid to speak our minds though our hearts may want to be 
> compassionate. I have a lot of respect for individuals who 
> have the guts to get up and teach Jewish music, at what ever 
> level. I also have an obligation to both the music and the 
> art of the telling to inform folks when they need a lot or a 
> little polish. Heck, even this posting is written with a lot 
> of restraint, but that's because I know my crowd.
> 
> Cheers!
> 
> Cantor Brad Hyman
> Temple Sinai of Glendale
> 1212  N. Pacific Avenue
> Glendale, CA 91202
> (818) 246-8101 x12  Fax: (818) 246-9372
> (818) 244-2547 "The Bat Phone"
> 
> 
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