Re: Songleader for an Older Crowd

[Rachelle and Howard Shubert <shubert...>]

I agree with the statement that older audiences are often extremely
receptive to a variety of music.  

In addition to the familiar, traditional music, I have found that rhythmic
songs such as Debbie Friedman's "Not By Might" and "Miriam's Song" are well
received.  Two others are "Bashana Haba-ah (neshev al hamir peset)" and
"Hallelujah" (the one which begins "Hallelujah, sing a song, Hallelujah,
I'll follow along, With a simple word, a single word, we bless the sky, the
tree the bird and we fill our hearts with song, Hallelujah..."  I am not
sure who composed this, but I have performed it with success on many
occasions.  

I have to keep reminding myself that trying to be original is sometimes
counter-productive and that performing to an older audience allows the
singer to sing some good old "schmaltz".  Audiences like to sing along and
don't seem to tire of the traditional songs. Depending on how well the
people in the audience know Hebrew and Yiddish, I have found that singing a
verse or two of English translation is appreciated.  

All the best.  Have fun.

Rachelle







Rachelle Mingail Shubert
shubert (at) total(dot)net