College level Jewish Music course

[Judy Pinnolis <pinnolis...>]

David:
You've presented one of the big dilemmas for anyone wishing to teach this
subject matter. There is no one comprehensive readable text in English, and
each teacher more or less needs to start from scratch.

I can tell you that there is a book forthcoming that will answer our
problems for an American style textbook for a college level course in Jewish
music. John Baron of Tulane University, and Emmanuel Rubin of UMASS Amherst,
are collaborating. It's not out yet, and not likely to be for this Fall, as
far as I know.
You should contact John Baron, as he's taught survey courses to undergrads
in Jewish music for years and years. He's a great teacher, (I can personally
testify to this) and knows this material inside out, up and down, backwards
and forwards and understands what works for students. 

In the meantime, a series of reserve readings is really the way to go,
rather than a textbook. That is how I would design a course, especially
given the nature of music... 

For a listing of books I recommend on American Jewish music, you may consult
the article I wrote in "Reader's Guide to Judaism" (Fitzroy-Dearborn, 2000)
which covers listings for "American Jewish Music"

The New Grove's 2000, if you have it online, or even if not, is excellent
and really a good way to go for all the general Jewish music topics. EJ on
CD ROM would be a good purchase for your library if they don't own it,
because the students can keyword search. The American supplements you'd need
(neither Groves or EJ cover the American music as thoroughly as one would
hope), can be found summarized with Mark Kligman's article.(which is
probably the best summary around about the contemporary American scene).
Eliott's suggestion of using Peter Gradenwitz makes a lot of sense, and can
be read by non-music majors. Gradenwitz also has some depth and would give
students a feel for the material.  I would assign readings from Shiloah but
not use as a text if you have a lot of non-majors, which is most likely.
Passport by Heskes is a very good outline, but she stays in bibliography
range.  I would keep Passport on Reserve and let them buy Gradenwitz, which
is a great book to own anyway. 

David, I have years and years of articles I've been collecting here at the
office if you're looking for readings... so if you'd like to come by early
this summer and spend some time thumbing through the files to get some
ideas, you're welcome. 

And don't forget: I have a research guide online on my website:
http://www.jmwc.org/jmwc_resmusic.html
which will probably be updated by the Fall.

To Francesco: Don't know, but I don't think the online course by Edwin is
still up at UCLA.


Judy




Eliott Kahn wrote:
> 
> For a college survey, I'd use:
> 
> Gradenwitz, Peter,1910- The Music of Israel :from the biblical era to modern 
> times \.2nd ed., rev. and expanded.Portland, Or. :Amadeus Press,1996.
> 
> Of course, you'll have to supplement sections on hazzanim, klezmorim, and 
> Sephardic and Mizrahi music, but you will get a broad, fairly accurate and 
> up-to-date historical overview.
> 
> I definitely concur with the importance of the articles on Jewish music in 
> New Grove II (2000) and in the Encyclopedia Judaica by Hannoch Avennary.
> 
> Dr. Eliott Kahn
> Music Archivist
> Library of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
> 3080 Broadway
> New York, NY 10027
> WK: (212) 678-8076
> FAX (212) 678-8998
> elkahn (at) jtsa(dot)edu
> 
> At 09:42 AM 5/17/02 -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
> >
> 

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