Re: What is Jewish Music?

[AGREENBA <AGREENBA...>]

<< Elie Weisel has written on this subject.  As I recall, he's pretty 
circumspect 
about much of the 'Holocaust art' done by non-survivors.  As a non-survivor 
who 
addressed the unspeakable, I'm curious as to the experiences of others on the 
list. >>

Interestingly, when I performed with/led my synagogue?s youth klezmer 
ensemble at our town?s Holocaust remembrance this year, people complimented 
me profusely on the presentation. Although most always grateful and gracious 
when accepting compliments I felt very uneasy about these compliments. I feel 
that such performances  aren?t or shouldn?t be really up for evaluation on 
such occasions. Additionally, I was asked if I enjoyed someone else?s 
performance. I said quite frankly it wasn?t right for me or up to me to give 
a response as the occasion shouldn?t entertain criticism, either way. 

To further address how others experience their own performances or 
performances of others, I can say that I do feel much more comfortable with 
my group?s current Shoah presentation than I have with any other 
(professional) offering in past years because our violinist, child of 
survivors, brings her father?s experience as narrative in front of our 
musical offering, while we (including Cookie of course as well) weave the 
music in and out of the story line, although not always directly relating to 
the actual prose. What?s important for me is that the focus is quite 
different and doesn?t therefore beg the question of whether our music is 
performed well or whether the selections as a whole or individually are 
appropriate - or....not. The music serves the narrative and is there as the 
?right? backdrop for the poignancy of our presentation - we hope. Changing 
the focus and having Cookie move us in the right direction relieves me of 
much of the angst that could possibly be associated with my not being a child 
of survivors, not ever being able to express what she can in a Holocaust 
?concert.? 

  
Adrianne (Klezical Tradition)

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