RE: Lecha Dodi

[Robert Cohen <rlcm17...>]

FWIW, a propos of Winston's referring to 6 different melodies for Lecha 
Dodi:  Music historians, I believe, estimate that there have been as many as 
2,000 (!) melodies for this piyyut--far more than for any other.  (I'm not 
counting Adon Olam to every which sort of borrowed melody, however glorious 
sometimes.) BTW, it's traditional in many (all?) Hassidic congregations to 
change the melody of Lecha Dodi--and perhaps the spirit or mood--at the Lo 
Seivoshi verse (and continuing for the rest).  I've never heard of _more_ 
than two melodies being used in one service, though....Cantor Ivor:  What do 
you mean by using "_the_ tune of 'Yom se Mechubad'" for Lecha Dodi? Which?!  
(There are many such, plus contrafacta!)  Pls. advise, if possible.

>From: "winston weilheimer" <taxrelief (at) bitstorm(dot)net>
>Reply-To: jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org
>To: World music from a Jewish slant. <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org>
>Subject: RE: Nussach & Niggunim:  Our Liturgical Music
>Date: Wed, 5 May 1999 12:29:31 -0400
>
>without reposting the long post of robert cohen, I agree completely with 
>the
>sentiment of nusach for the holidays.  it provides the tam of the day.  who
>could not be moved by the introduction to baruchu on yom kippur.  on yom
>tovim i cringe when the sheliach tzibur does not use the nusach for musaf.
>It gets me in the mood when I hear (or use myself) the special melodies 
>that
>for the repitition that lead up to tifillat geshem an tal.  We do loose out
>when these are not used.  The problem is that they are not taught to many
>congregations and the fact is that they are lost in many areas.  When I
>daven in a shul and use these melodies, i always get people from the
>congregation come up to me and tell me that they have not heard them for 20
>years or more.  It is part of the hamiginization i am afraid.
>
>having said that, i also enjoy introducing new melodies to the 
>congregation.
>We are now up to 6 different melodies for l'cha dodi.  some old, some
>modern.  I learned a new one last November and brought it back to the
>congregation.  I mix them up so that on each friday night we might sing a
>different one.  Sometimes I even use more than one on the same night, and
>israeli version, the traditional version, and the Lewendowski version, on
>different paragraphs.  It works and the members of the congregation who 
>come
>from different traditons all "groove" on it.  There is room for both.
>
>Winston Weilheimer
>Lay Rabbi
>Temple Israel of Deland (Florida)
>
>
>
>


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