RE: FW: [2ND-GEN:7773] Re: Perry Como

[Reyzl Kalifowicz-Waletzky <reyzl...>]

Ilana,

I was not asking about music that is "culturally "mainstream" -- that is, 
implicitly set in a Christian culture", but rather "explicitly Christian 
works".   I know one very Jewish but atheistic Jew who voluntarily annually 
performs Handel's "Messiah" in Lincoln Center and loves the experience.   I 
don't know what language the Messiah is sung or if he would have loved the 
experience the same if the setting were in a church.  Since this person is also 
a Jewish-music subscriber, s/he will speak up.  I also don't know how one 
constructs the inner filter when the music's meaning loses it's opacity.   The 
filters must be different when one is being paid for singing explicitly 
Christian music in a church.   How did the churchgoers feel about a Jew being 
the paid soprano soloist who is supposed to religiously inspire them?   I guess 
it's the same question I would have for Reform temples who hire non-Jews to 
sing in their choirs.   I would especially love to hear the explanations the 
Reform Temple in the South gave 3 years ago for the fact that they hired the 
local priest for well over a year to be their chazzan because he was the only 
person in their local area who knew enough Hebrew, = their official 
explanation.  (The priest performed in church on Sunday mornings and in the 
Temple on Friday nights.)   When word got out about this very strange 
arrangement, the Reform officialdom forced them to fire this priest and "find 
some other arrangement".  


Reyzl     



----------
From:  IKochinska (at) aol(dot)com[SMTP:IKochinska (at) aol(dot)com]
Sent:  Tuesday, December 15, 1998 12:16 AM
To:  World music from a Jewish slant.
Subject:  Re: FW: [2ND-GEN:7773] Re: Perry Como

responding to E. Kahn's thoughts about Jewish and Christian religious music...
beautifully said.  I have also had a similar array of experiences and have
reached a similar conclusion.  I'm a part-time High Holiday cantor, Yiddish &
sometimes Hebrew concert singer; while as a classical singer, I sing opera,
oratorio and art song repertoire that ranges from culturally "mainstream" --
that is, implicitly set in a Christian culture -- to explicitly Christian
works.  I was for several years a paid soprano soloist in an Episcopal Church,
where I was very struck by the simple, sincere way our choir -- ranging in age
from 7 or 8 to about 70 -- communicated spiritual ideas that are, I believe,
common to many believers in different theological camps.
On the other hand, some of the Gospel readings were a little hard to take.
And on the other hand, some of the sermons were quite interesting when I put
them through my inner filter (searching behind the strictly Christian ideas)
-- and most of my choir colleagues couldn't have been more bored.
Has anyone else out there have similar experiences?
        
Happy Chanuka, y'all.
Ilana Kochinska