Re: Itsy Bitsy Spider and other Liturgucal Themes

[W. Morrison <sushiqn...>]

>        I do believe that the mode, melody, etc should be appropriate.

Agreed. Aside from the fact that I dislike those melodies, it seems to me
that the traditional perky major key themes of the latter parts of aleinu
are sometimes very inappropriate. At a shiva minyan, for example.

It is not the fact that tunes like Shehu Noteh Shamayim, V'ne'emar, and Ein
Keloheinu are major key, or even that they are German or Reform in origin,
that particularly bothers me. I don't know what the origin is of Ein
Kamokha, but there you have an assertively major melody, all the way up to
Av HaRakhamim. It's a fine melody. It goes somewhere, it has movement,
interest, it is inspiring. It fits the purpose it serves, as introduction
to the Torah service.
It is the ultra-simplistic mindlessly cheerful nursery-rhyme quality of the
former melodies that I object to. If Barney
(he-should-be-swallowed-whole-by-a-T-Rex) were Jewish, he would sing them.

They say nothing positive to me, and they do not deserve the words they
convey - instead, they trivialize the meaning of the prayers. They do not
enhance my davening experience, rather they impede it, and make me feel
like a 3 year old who isn't allowed to sit with the grownups. As if I
couldn't be trusted with a more sophisticated melody. I am on a campaign at
my shul to replace them as much as possible with more suitable tunes. I
know I'll never stamp them out altogether, but I have the full support of
the cantor, and some progress is being made.

Wendy

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