"Sound Check"(!)

[Dan Kazez <kazez...>]

Cantor Neil Schwartz listed Bernstein's "Chichester Psalms" as one of his 
favorite works of classical music.  I listened to the music for the first 
time last night.  It is indeed wonderful.  However, it raises a troubling 
(but inevitable) question--just what is "Jewish music"?

Chichester Psalms is in Hebrew, from the Psalms.  But what about the music 
itself?  What specific elements of the music evoke a Jewish image?  (And, 
more technically speaking...  In primarily non-tonal music, how do composers 
make their music sound Jewish?)

Let me be more specific.  Fill in the blanks:

   When I hear ______________ in music, I can be pretty sure it's Jewish.

   When I hear ______________ in music, then I know it's Jewish!

Dan Kazez

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 1995-96 CONCERTS:  Prague, Berlin, Rome, Florence, Paris, Salzburg, 
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Dan Kazez/Associate Professor of Music
Wittenberg Univ./Springfield, Ohio 45501
kazez (at) wittenberg(dot)edu
tel:  513-327-7354/fax:  513-327-6340