Re: Itsy Bitsy Spider and other Liturgucal Themes

[richard_wolpoe <richard_wolpoe...>]

I believe that the late Irving Berlin used to say that all the world's 
melodies can be distilled down to just 6!  I don't take that literally, but 
let's face it, some fairly pedestrian folk songs have become themes for 
great symphonic works.

        I do believe that the mode, melody, etc should be appropriate.  
There are gazillions of variations on the Kol Nidre melody, but nearly all 
share that famous haunting mode in common.

        And Oleinu at the end of the service (as opposed to the High 
Holiday Musaph Oleinu) has traditionall y sung (at least by ashkenazim) in 
major mode.  The first part somewhat solemnly, then the bright itsy bitsy 
part.  Finally the traditional folksy closing of veneemar. All 3 in major 
mode.

        I once heard a lecturer claim that various folk melodies were 
adapted to the opera, for popular music, for symphonic music and for 
litrugical music.  So itsy bitsy and sheu noteh may not be parent and 
child, but might be cousins descnded form a common ancestor (the missing 
link???)

        Smetana's Die Moldau was the source for the Hatikvo.  However, the 
opening theme melody actually predates Smetana!  And Copeland's Appalachian 
Spring is descended from the Shaker Hymn: 'Tis the Gift to Be Simple, but 
I'll be willing to bet that hymn has earlier roots, too

Rich Wolpoe


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Itsy Bitsy Spider and other Liturgucal Themes 
Author:  <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org > at tcpgate
Date:    2/24/98 10:25 AM


As i thought about it, I realized it is really hard for me to be 
judgemental about any of these melodies. Yes, I hear the goofiness of some 
of them, but they are so ingrained in me, that they just seem "right".
Ben