What is Jewish Music?

[CantorJ <CantorJ...>]

Another take on the definitions of "Jewish Life" and "Jewish Music."

A rabbi once demonstrated that there are a myriad of ways in which one 
defines onesself as Jewish -- by birth, by belief, by eating habits, 
philanthropies, celebrations, observance of mitzvot, etc.  He suggested that 
people considered themselves Jewish and living a Jewish life even if they 
only fit into one of his categories, thus leaving a large breadth of 
definition for "who is a Jew?" (another important question).

Concerning Jewish Music, I like the simple definition formulated by the late 
Eric Werner:  Music by Jews for Jews.  It doesn't touch on the issue of 
"borrowing melodies" from other cultures -- though he recognizes that 
cultures do interface and swap many ideas be they musical or culinary.  
However, it is very usable as it covers a broad range of music from sacred to 
secular.  It probably lets in far more than it leaves out.

Well, let the talks continue,
Janice Roger