[HANASHIR:1384] Re: Yamim Noraim Music Survey

[Judy Caplan Ginsburgh <jerd...>]

Adrian,

I am currently employed at two synagogues.  One-- a very large congregation in
New Orleans, La.  They use alot of the traditional music with organ and full
choir.  Very big and lush.

I chose to sing at my home congregation this year -- a small congregation also
in Louisiana.  We also use organ.  I am able to choose most of the music here
for the holidays and I do it all as a soloist (no choir).  Some melodies are
done a cappella, but most are with organ.  I use many traditional (or standard)
melodies ("V'al Kulam"; both traditional and Janowski's "Avinu"; Lewendowski's
"K'dusha").  But also sing Richards "R'tze"; Janowski's "Sim Shalom"; Jeff
Klepper's "Shma Koleynu" and "Mah Tovu"; and Steve Dropkin's "Hashiveinu" and
"Pitchu Li".  The congregants do enjoy these more contemporary pieces.

I personally would prefer never to sing with an organ again.  I would much
prefer to do things with a keyboard or a cappella with only the vocal
instrument.

Hope all of you had an easy fast.

Judy : )

Adrian A. Durlester wrote:

> Now that I am again working as an organist/choir director at a congregation,
> I would be most eager to receive from others of you copies of the lists of
> music you are using for HHDays. I am interested in comparing the "mix." Is
> the Lewandowski, Sulzer, Fromm, Adler (and Bonia Shur's arrangements)
> material still predominant or are  other influences beginning to creep in?
> In Fargo, we had started to get a pretty good mix of newer music-perhaps
> Janeen can tell us if this trend continues there?
>
> About the only contemporary or hasidic influences I have been able to
> interject onto HHDay services at Congregation Micah here in Nashville so far
> (apart from "classical style" contemporary works by Steve Richards, Michael
> Isaccson, etc.) have been Klepper's "Sheheycheyanu" and a new arrangement of
> the Carlebach "Esa Einai" from Transcon.
>
> Also-how many of your congregations are using an Organ (as an organ-since
> some are now capable of much more) as opposed to another type of keyboard?
>
> Thoughts, comments?
>
> An easy fast to all.
>
> Adrian



--
Judy Caplan Ginsburgh, Award-winning Singer/Music Specialist
       http://www.ax.centuryinter.net/jewishentertainment/judy/index.html
Director:  Jewish Entertainment Resources
       http://www.ax.centuryinter.net/jewishentertainment/index.html
Cantorial Soloist, Touro Synagogue, New Orleans, LA
Past Conference Chair:  23rd Conference on Alternatives in Jewish Education