[HANASHIR:1468] HANASHIR: The Structure of the Liturgy, Some Helps

[HazzAnne <HazzAnne...>]

Hello - My name is Anne Heath and I'm a cantor in St. Louis, Missouri. I was
just inducted as a member by the Cantors Assembly (the Conservative movement's
professional cantors organization) at their convention in NYC in June 1998. I
am completing my requirements next June (hopefully) for cantorial
certification by the American Conference of Cantors (the Reform movement's
professional cantors organization). Both of these processes are based on
examination and years in service. (Please contact each group for information
if you're interested.)

In this discussion from several posts concerning the structure of the service,
there are several books which come to mind that will help people through the
glorious maze that is Jewish liturgy.

(1) To Pray As A Jew by Rabbi Hayim Halevy Donin - a classic
(2) The Structure of the Siddur by Stephen R. Schach - great, especially if
you like charts
(3) The Synagogue Survival Kit by Jordan Lee Wagner 
(4) The Encyclopedia of Jewish Prayer by Macy Nulman - entries for almost
every prayer imaginable, full of footnotes and indications on how prayers have
evolved over the centuries and in different communities
(5) Teaching Tefillah from A.R.E. Publications in Colorado (they also have
Teaching Torah and Teaching Mitzvot - an excellent series)
(6) Entering Jewish Prayer by Reuven Hammer

Needless to say, there are more - but, if I had to pick one right off the bat
for you to be sure to get it would be The Synagogue Survival Kit. It is a
Jason Aronson publication which has offices in New Jersey, in England and in
Jerusalem, so it should be pretty accessible. Copyright date is 1997 so it
should still be in print.

Hope this helps and hope I haven't misread the direction of other people's
remarks and questions, Anne