[HANASHIR:1403] Re: Yamim Noraim Music Survey

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Janet:  Would you and the rabbi feel comfortable with your using a pitch
pipe?  Emily

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> From: Janet(dot)PAPE (at) oecd(dot)org
> To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> Subject: [HANASHIR:1386] Re: Yamim Noraim Music Survey
> Date: Thursday, October 01, 1998 6:30 AM
> 
> 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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