Re: Jews for XMAS

[robert wiener <wiener...>]

Steve,

You wrote that "The expression of the Jewish musical soul comes through - no
matter how assimilated we may be."

How does one get a "Jewish musical soul"?  Is it acquired at birth
(genetic)?  Or is developed through exposure to Jewish culture (learned)?
Is it passed on in the blood?  Or will the children of assimilated Jews not
have a Jewish musical soul?

If it is only passed on by blood, then only pure blood Jews would have that
Jewish musical soul.  (Certainly not converts.)  But if it is passed on by
Jewish education, then during this holiday season we really should be aware
of American Christian culture as an influence on both us and on our
children's (musical) souls.

At least if we think that a Jewish musical soul is something worth having.

Bob
-----Original Message-----
From: Steven M. Singer <ssinger (at) orion(dot)it(dot)luc(dot)edu>
To: World music from a Jewish slant. <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org>
Date: Wednesday, December 16, 1998 12:21 PM
Subject: Jews for XMAS


>
>I certainly DO NOT want to spend more time on this issue (this is a JEWISH
>music list), but it's interesting to consider the impact of Jewish writers
>and composers on the current landscape of Xmas music.
>
>The liner notes of Mandy Patinkin's recent "Mamaloshen" album raise this
>very issue about the "Jewishness" of secular (or even Christian holiday)
>music written by Jews (i.e. Irving Berlin - "White Xmas", Paul Simon,
>etc...) regardless of content.  (i.e.  The expression of the Jewish
>musical soul comes through - no matter how assimilated we may be.)
>
>Two cents of gelt.
>
>Steve
>
>http://www.jewishsong.com
>info (at) jewishsong(dot)com
>
>