[HANASHIR:1386] Re: Yamim Noraim Music Survey

[Janet . PAPE <Janet.PAPE...>]

At my current (liberal) congregation, the rabbi prefers no instruments.  I
have had to deal with doing the whole HH without any help on starting
pitches.  This can sometimes lead to some interesting modulations halfway
through pieces, if I find I started something way too high or low.  On the
other hand, I have always found that congregations sing better and more when
the service is a capella. 

 My choice would be the use accompaniment (I agree - organ doesn't really
fit - a synthesizer that can get more varied timbres is preferable) for
those pieces which are definitely more effective with harmony underneath,
but to have most of the service unaccompanied.  

The other problem with absolutely no instruments is that my poor little
choir (no pros) has to be very courageous to sing without support.

As to repetoire - I use a lot of Todros Goldberg, Steinberg, Janowski,
Isaacson, Helfman, (and of course, my own improv.),  but also French
Sephardi music.  We sing the avinu twice each time, once sephardi, and once
ashkenazi.   I was surprised at how many people really knew the HH liturgy
and sang right along.  

Janet Pape






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