[HANASHIR:1419] Instrumental music

[Carol Leon <cbleon...>]

My 2 cents:  I feel fortunate that my synagogue has few restrictions on 
the use of musical instruments during services.  While upon its founding 
it was decided there would definitely not be an organ, and the piano is 
used mainly to accompany the choirs and student groups that sing rather 
than accompanying the congregation, we've heard flute and clarinet and 
viola and -- ready for this? -- saxophone!  Yes, during the reading of 
the names of those who died during the past year at the Yom Kippur 
Yizkor service, my husband played Avinu Malkeinu on the sax (while I 
played piano).  It's an incredibly emotional instrument, even better 
than the clarinet he's played in the past.  Our Kol Nidre service opens 
with 2 adults playing it on viola and piano, and the children's Yom 
Kippur service has kids on the same instruments playing an abbreviated 
version of it.  Guitar has been used extensively during services, too.  
While the absolute sincerity of singing a capella is wonderful, so are 
the occasional instrumental additions to our services.  -- Carol

>Date: Mon, 05 Oct 1998 00:04:14 -0500
>From: Judy Caplan Ginsburgh <jerd (at) centuryinter(dot)net>
>To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
>Subject: [HANASHIR:1417] Re: Congregational Choirs
>Reply-To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
>
>Rachelle,
>
>I have a volunteer choir comprised of congregants at my synagogue.  
None of
>them reads music.  It is amazing how truly good they sound (a tribute 
to those
>who came before me) and how much they can add to the participation 
level of the
>service.  We try to rehearse once a week.  There are about 15 diligent
>members.  I am very careful to always pitch melodies in a comfortable 
range.
>Our organ is a transposing one and of course guitar can be played in 
any key.
>We do unison singing, rounds and two and four part harmonies.
>
> During the service, the choir sits in the first few rows.  Having them
>participate definitely encourages others in the congregation to sing 
along.
>They are never told they cannot sing on anything.  We do discuss that 
certain
>portions of melodies lend themselves more to a solo voice and discuss 
where it
>may be appropriate for the choir to join in.
>
>Having spent most of my life being a solo singer, this choral 
experience is
>something I was not sure of.  But I must say -- there is nothing more 
spiritual
>than looking out into your congregation and seeing smiling faces 
singing in
>full voice and spirit with you.  This is what being a cantor or soloist 
is
>traditionally all about.  It is not to show off our own voices, but 
rather to
>lead the congregation in the sweet melodies of our heritage.  When I 
hear our
>choir sing along and hear other congregants join in, I know that G-d is 
truly
>in our house of worship.
>
>Judy : )
>
>--
>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
>


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