Re: contemporary liturgical folk music

[Ari Davidow <ari...>]

At 01:44 PM 1/8/01 -0500, you wrote: 

>
>  
>
> As the proud owner of 55 Carlebach albums which I've collected from the early
> 70's I find it difficult to dismiss him as a "summer camp music" composer. 
> His melodies circle the globe all the way from the Kotel to India.  Today,
> some six years after his passing in October of '94, Shlomo's music is
> becoming more widespread and relevant than ever before.  By comparison, who
> really listens to the cantorial music help in high regard by the effete snob
> set?



Boy, I would imagine Jewish traditionalists, for starters. Certainly anyone
with an ear to telling and beautiful prayer. And anyone interested in the
continuity of Jewish prayer, would likewise be interested....

You sound like I sound when I dismiss the music of Debbie Friedman and Shlomo
Carlebach (although him, at least, I knew over the course of several years, so
it is easier to be clear that it was not him as a person, but the music and
spiritual persona with which I had trouble). I would suspect that the better
response for both of us in such circumstances is to listen and ask why this
tradition speaks to so many people, rather than separate out that which we like
and ignore the rest.

Ari "I hope I'm not often this self-righteous, but suspect that I am" Davidow
;-).




Ari Davidow
ari (at) ivritype(dot)com
list owner, jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org
the klezmer shack: http://www.klezmershack.com/

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