Re: MItzvah music and dance

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

There are Hmong who refer to themselves as the 13th tribe.  Those who adhere to
the traditional Hmong religion still sacrifice animals.  A Hmong elder I know
claims they shlog kapores.  Easy to see why I enjoy them so much.



Leonard Koenick wrote:

> To stretch this thread (Pun intended) even farther, I have some
> cross-stitched cloths created by the Hmong that I use as Challah covers.
> Most would say it is Bedouin.
>
> Leonard
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org
> [mailto:owner-jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org]On Behalf Of Alex J. Lubet
> Sent: Wednesday, July 17, 2002 6:50 PM
> To: World music from a Jewish slant
> Subject: Re: MItzvah music and dance
>
> Thank you, Leonard.  This will enable me to tell a funny, if tangential,
> story.
> In one of my other lives, I am active in work on behalf of the Hmong
> community,
> who came to the United States as refugees from Southeast Asia, having fought
> on
> the American side during the Indochinese war.  Traditional Hmong music, even
> if
> instrumental, is so married to the Hmong language that Hmong people at one
> time
> did not regard it as music at all, and credited American GI's with
> introducing
> them to music, that is, '60s rock music.  I was performing any fundraiser
> for a
> Hmong women's organization once in one of the other acts was a Hmong rock
> band.
> While much of their repertoire was their own Indochinese brand of rock, they
> also did American songs from the '60s which had become icons in their
> culture.
> One of these was Chubby Checker's Limbo Rock, which they played for the
> traditional Hmong dance!  At least they knew their own dance, even if the
> tune
> had changed!  I didn't hear it that night, but I have been informed that Roy
> Orbison has also become a Hmong cultural icon.  Think Pretty Woman in a
> language
> with four tones.
>
> Leonard Koenick wrote:
>
> > A few comments that I hope are at least mildly related:
> >
> > It is not just our Jewish community that has lost the ability to do its
> > social dances.  The general population has done the same.  I trace that
> back
> > to Chubby Checkers and the Twist as the beginning of the inability of
> people
> > to dance together.
> >
> > Don't be too quick to believe that other ethnic groups have maintained
> their
> > own ability to dance to their historic cultures.  A few years ago I went
> to
> > a nightclub in Philadelphia for what was called "Greek Night" with a minor
> > apprehension that I was going to a fraternity party.  Busloads of Greeks
> had
> > chartered the place.  The music was fine but the only dancing that was
> done
> > was the same as current popular dancing. I.e. standing alone and bouncing
> up
> > and down.  The only difference was a sop to tradition by holding their
> arms
> > over their heads while dancing.  All the same regardless of the tune.
> >
> > Leonard Koenick
> >
>
> --
> 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)
>

--
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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