Re: Fwd: Re: Passion Plays and Jewish Music

[Alex J. Lubet <lubet001...>]

I never cease to marvel at what people don't know about the fundamental
principles which underlie organizations to which they belong and which form such
keystones in their lives.  I don't mean to cast stones and any particular
religion in this context or even religion per se, since this is often the case
with other kinds of institutions as well.

In order to bring this back to the topic of music, I'd like to relate an example
of what I would consider an ideal interfaith musical collaboration.  Last year,
when University of Minnesota Hillel used my African Shabbat for special service,
the music director, both my student and someone I work with regularly, was the
minister of music and a local Methodist Church, musically the ideal conductor
for this work and spiritually enthusiastic to assist us in our worship.  Several
of his choristers also participated.

Earlier in my career, I sometimes accepted commissions from churches.  I had a
strict policy of only using "Old Testament" texts, which was always cheerfully
accepted and well understood.  For a variety of reasons, I would not accept such
a commission at this time.  There are numerous reasons I would be happy to have
Christian musicians assist in the performance of one of my works in a Jewish
service, but could not reciprocate.  The historical and theological issues are
complex.  I would also not be judgmental of those who see this differently and
behave accordingly, although I would be interested in knowing their rationales.
Certainly, the fact that I am able to turn down work that does not interest me
without serious financial risk figures into this equation.

By the way, there's a prominent young Argentinian-Jewish composer whose name
escapes me for the moment who has recently done a setting of one of the
Passions, the St. Mark, I believe.  He's also done "Jewish" pieces.  I believe
his first name is Oswaldo, I can't remember his last name at the moment.

This is an interesting and important discussion, one that has managed for the
most part to engage both music and the bigger social picture.

Shalom,



Helen Winkler wrote:

> Would just like to add that the people who wanted me to help them with their
> Passion Play production did not know that Passion Plays were used
> historically as instruments of anti-Semitism.  They also didn't know that
> Israeli music and dance are not thousands of years old.  They did not know
> the history of Israeli folk dance nor what this dance form was supposed to
> symbolize for Jews at the time it was first created.  Once I explained some
> of this it made them stop and think.  Where it will lead, I don't know.
> Helen
>

--
Alex Lubet, Ph. D.
Morse Alumni Distinguished Teaching Professor of Music
Adjunct Professor of American and Jewish Studies
Head, Division Of Composition and Music Theory
University of Minnesota
2106 4th St. S
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612 624-7840 612 624-8001 (fax)


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