[HANASHIR:2123] Re: Sim Shalom canon

[QuelliPG <QuelliPG...>]

In a message dated 1/8/99 10:08:05 AM, jcohen (at) fas(dot)harvard(dot)edu 
writes:
<<There are
a surprising number of tunes borrowed from other places--folk songs,
childrens' songs, church hymns, arabic songs, drinking songs, etc.--that
have made it into the Jewish liturgical canon.  We don't seem to mind using
them until we are made aware that they have some sort of "unholy"
background which somehow goes against our "Jewish" values.  All of a
sudden, with this knowledge, the music becomes inappropriate for expressing
and praying the words.>>

Judah, you make some excellent points in your letter.  This one in particular
strikes me, because not having sung in churches and only in recent years
hearing the Latin words to what I had known as "Sim Shalom" since my early
childhood, I didn't and still don't have the Christian associations with the
piece.  There are many beautiful Hebrew canons whose composers are either
classical or unknown (at least to me) that perhaps to many sound like
Christian music.  To me it is just another element of Jewish music, because
that's the only way I have ever used it.  I personally have that psychological
barrier against hearing an organ in a synagogue, because THAT to me sounds
like a church.  But as you say, it is an individual response, depending on
one's background and associations with the music.   (On a similar note, but
not related to music, I grew up making Chanukah cookies every year and the
first time I made them for my husband, his response was that "that is so
goyish" (sorry for the term if anyone's offended) and he had to explain why -
I never knew that Christian people made similar cookies for their holiday!  To
me it was as Jewish a ritual as lighting the chanukiyah!  so it all depends on
your point of reference!)
as a sidenote, since I was the one who initiated the discussion a fewes NOT
fit the words, but not because it is a French school song (I didn't know that
until today) but because it sounds happy go lucky nursery rhyme-ish!  and
doesn't give the feeling of the gloriousness and power of God.   so on that
one I agree with Janet.  
And I add my thanks to Janet and Judah for their vast knowledge of music
history, ethnomusicology, etc.  You enlighten us all.  (altho some of the
origins I think I'd rather not know...) :)
Raquel