Re: College level Jewish Music course

[Alex Lubet <lubet001...>]

I've never really taught a Jewish music course per se, but I did teach 
"Jewish Contributions to American Musical Culture" and will probably resume 
doing so next year.  At the time, it was a non-credit course, so there was 
no text, but have familiarize myself with what's out there.  I would think 
that Shiloah's book would be a bit too advanced for sophomores, especially 
if they weren't music majors and/or had no familiarity with Jewish music or 
culture.  Others on this list wouldn't concur, but I am a big fan of Mark 
Slobin's Fiddler on the Move.  It's pretty much only about klezmer, and not 
necessarily easy, but brief, beautifully written, and it comes with its own CD.

I've never found an all-purpose Jewish music text, let alone one I 
liked.  I suspect that many of us have been waiting for one to appear.  If 
there someone out there with the breadth of knowledge and skills, please 
proceed.  Cantor Sam Weiss, are you we need of a hobby that could be mildly 
profitable?

Git shabes,


At 09:42 AM 5/17/2002 -0400, you wrote:
>I have a question for the group.
>
>For the past four years I have been trying unsuccessfully to offer a course
>on the history of Jewish music at the college where I teach (Southern
>Connecticut State University, New Haven).  However, it finally looks like my
>patience will be rewarded.  The enrollment figures for the fall look good
>enough for it to run.  So now I am beginning in earnest to make plans for
>the course.  When I first began to develop the course, a few years ago, I
>had discussed  the subject and received suggestions and help from several
>members of this group about books and syllabus.  But time has passed and I
>have been spending much more time of late making Jewish music rather than
>studying it as an academic subject.  I am devoting this summer to getting
>myself back up to speed and revising my syllabus.  The question I am posing
>for  the group is twofold.
>
>1.  Suggestions about subjects in Jewish music that you absolutely feel MUST
>be covered in a sophomore-junior level survey music history course.
>
>2. A textbook or series of books that you feel adequately addresses the
>subject for this particular level of students.  Keep in mind that I teach at
>a school where most of the kids hold full-time jobs in order to go to
>college.  Not only do they have trouble affording the textbooks, I find them
>so busy trying to make both ends meet that I cannot give them Ivy School
>length  reading assignments.  I've looked over the field and personally
>haven't found a single recent book (I'm not counting Idelsohn and feel funny
>asking the students to use a book that is missing the last 60+ years of the
>history) that might address my concerns.  Has anyone suggestions?
>
>I hope to hear from you either off-group or on this talk group.  Outside of
>my obvious needs, I think this subject  might make for an interesting and
>provocative discussion.
>
>Thanks --
>
>David
><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
>David Chevan, Bassologist
>for more info visit my web site located at
>  www.chevan.addr.com
>

Alex Lubet, Ph. D.
Morse Alumni Distinguished Teaching Professor of Music
Adjunct Professor of American and Jewish Studies
University of Minnesota
100 Ferguson Hall
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612 624-7840 (o)
612 699-1097 (h)
612 624-8001  ATTN:  Alex Lubet (FAX)