Re: MItzvah music and dance

[Lori Cahan-Simon <l_cahan...>]

Are you saying that they think they are Jewish or that there are 
similarities in culture?

Alex J. Lubet wrote:

>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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