[HANASHIR:16516] "Quality" and the teachings of Danny Maseng

[Shirona <shirona...>]

Now that the dust settled on the Dinosaur...(till the next time someone wants 
to "pick a bone...;-) I feel the need for a little "closure" - since parts of 
this debate seemed to touch a nerve with some people...clearly polarizing the 
community between "pro" or "against" (and thank G-d for the "indifferent") - 
the dino.

I'm very sorry if my comments were hurtful - I never meant to offend anyone 
personally or challenge anyone personally.  My comments about the low level of 
quality in Jewish Music were general - but I understand that each individual on 
this list had to interpret these comments on a "personal" level and react 
accordingly.

I take comfort in knowing that "Anything worth saying will be met with 
opposition" - or put the other way around - "If everyone agrees with something 
you said it probably wasn't worth saying". I already know in advance that the 
flack will fly in my direction - but I do it anyway because I believe in what 
I'm saying and that it needs to be said.  OK here's two more: "Someone's gotta 
do it"... and "No good deed goes unpunished"... Flack accepted gracefully.

Then come the personal emails, many,  thanking me and congratulating me on my 
"guts" - for saying the very things they believe in privately but would rather 
not say in public - for obvious reasons... So I can only imaging the tone of 
all the private emails flying between the "other" campers. Oh well... that's 
the nature of the beast... uh oh... is it a Dinosaur? ;-)

On the issue of "Quality". It's such a complex and multi-facetted topic - 
swaying between the absolute and the relative, between private impressions and 
public opinion...but here is an example that I hope will highlight "where I'm 
coming from": 

A Carpenter builds a chair. It turns out somewhat crooked, the joints aren't 
tight, the wood is low grade and it's poorly designed.  Would anyone buy this 
chair?  Would anyone accept the argument that this carpenter is "expressing" 
him/herself...? Perhaps, but of what USE is it to OTHERS?   In such a clear-cut 
example we KNOW when something is poorly crafted - case closed. When it comes 
to music the criteria aren't AS clear cut - but they still exist!!  My whole 
point is that collectively... for whatever reason...(that's a whole other 
topic) we lowered our standards of acceptability to the point of - well you 
already know what I think.

These comments are NOT meant to discourage anyone from studying and advancing 
their skills!!!  Why would anyone make that assumption?  On the contrary! 
However - at what point a person feels comfortable coming out in public with 
singing/playing/composing/recording and publishing is first and foremost a 
sensitive and personal thing...but very much a reflection of what the public 
considers as "acceptable".  Perhaps this is where the crux of the problem is.

Years ago I was in a musical review ("On Silver Wings") with Danny Maseng.  On 
stage were Danny Maseng, Guy Jaffe and myself. We rehearsed for six months for 
an hour and a half show.  Every note was accounted for, every breath, every 
move.  Danny's level of perfectionism was my teacher and my inspiration - as 
well as my tormentor...  and being the first real performing I've ever done - 
the only way I've known.  I'll forever be grateful for that experience.  I also 
just came out of Art School - where being critiqued was a way of life.  You 
spent three hours drawing (OK - mostly nudes...;-) and then an hour having your 
work "shredded" by the teachers and other students.  We learned not to be 
"precious" about our work, how to honor our craft, how to pursue excellence and 
"quality" - usually the product of lots of hard work. You can "express 
yourself" all you want - but if your work is poor you're not going to get 
the"recognition" you secretly crave....And don't think that only "technique" 
was valued - but also Originality and Creativity.  Why  repeat what's already 
been done?  

Singing was always a hobby for me... but I spent YEARS studying voice before I 
felt ready and "worthy" of singing in public...I have tremendous respect for 
the art and craft of fine singing - and I don't mean Opera necessarily.  Great 
singers like Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, or Joni Mitchell 
(she's a total genius in my opinion - as a singer/songwriter/poet AND artist!) 
Bonnie Raitt and so many others. None of them tried to fit a pre-existing mold 
- in fact they created their own styles... but none of them succumbed to 
schlock.  The "real artists" out there in the "real world" - you may not like 
their style... but can't ever accuse them of "bad singing" or "poor 
musicianship".  Somehow the "real world" sets different standards than we do in 
the world of Jewish Music... This is what I'm lamenting about.

I believe that our Jewish heritage and culture - especially our sacred texts - 
deserve better than they've been getting. Of course there's no immediate 
"tachles" solution... maybe if there was some kind of real money in this field 
it would attract more accomplished musicians... who knows - but still I HAD to 
put it out there - something that's been bugging me for years.

Shirona



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Singer, Songwriter and Teacher of Jewish Music
   www.shirona.com
   www.cdbaby.com/shirona
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