Re: A Life Apart

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

Of course.  The statement was not intended to reflect a thoroughgoing
prohibition on instrumental music, except in certain traditions like the Satmar
chasidm or the even more restrictive group Shiloah describes.  My recollection
is that their views on music or skating in an anonymously published pamphlet,
but may simply be that I can't remember the name of the group.  It wasn't
anonymous, I'm sure it's in the book.  I'm also aware the book isn't universally
liked, but I have no reason to doubt the veracity of this particular passage.



Eliezer Kaplan wrote:

> >Of course, lots
> > of Christian (and Jewish) traditions bar instrumental music from worship,
> although I'm not aware
> > that they regard singing as a different category from music.
>
> In Judaism (most of the year) music being barred from worship is simply the
> halachah of the day (i. e. Shabbat and Yom Tov). The actual 'prohibition of
> music' is that which takes place during Sefirah (Pesach thru Shavuot) and
> Bein Hametzarim (17 Tamuz- Tisha B'Av). Even in those times customs vary
> widely, the primary goal being to lessen one's joy, which music brings. I
> think that in these contexts the 'music' that's forbidden would be that
> which brings joy- so the cantilllation associated with Tisha B'Av (the
> darkest day of the year) slips through.
>                                                                        ek
>
> www.zelwel.com
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Alex J. Lubet" <lubet001 (at) umn(dot)edu>
> To: "World music from a Jewish slant" <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org>
> Sent: Sunday, August 11, 2002 10:08 AM
> Subject: Re: A Life Apart
>
> > You're right, of course, Ari, in the parlance we usually use, but the
> distinction between 'music'
> > and 'singing' is not uncommon, especially in sacred traditions.  It is one
> Amnon Shiloah
> > discusses in Jewish Musical Tradition is made (if not characterized) by
> some haredim who forbid
> > 'music' but practice Torah cantillation.  It is a common distinction among
> Muslims who chant the
> > call to prayer and chant the Koran (which they learn in special schools
> throughout the Islamic
> > world, according to the appropriate maqam, more or less the equivalent of
> mode), but eschew
> > 'music' for religious reasons.  Even the Taliban had 'songs' which I saw
> once were available at
> > some ethnomusicologist's website, but couldn't bear to bring myself to
> hear.  Certain Protestant
> > denominations like the Old Line Regular Baptists of Kentucky make this
> distinction as well and do
> > not use instruments in worship although they permit 'music' in other
> contexts.  Of course, lots
> > of Christian (and Jewish) traditions bar instrumental music from worship,
> although I'm not aware
> > that they regard singing as a different category from music.
> >
> > An interesting variation on this theme is the Hmong perspective on music.
> Traditionally, all
> > their instrumental compositions were composed (or transcribed) based on
> texts of their tonal
> > language.  They did not regard these as music.  Music was something they
> regarded as having
> > picked up from American GI's.  Hmong rock and pop bands are a large part
> of Hmong-American
> > culture.
> >
> > There are also cultural regions whose languages until recently did not
> have a single term
> > equivalent to 'music' by which they characterized all their genres of
> forthrightly sonic
> > discourse.  This was the case in sub-Saharan Africa and among Native
> Americans, although I'd be
> > surprised if that were still the case.
> >
> > My apologies if this seems like an attempt to correct.  I just find this
> an interesting topic.
> > Defining 'music' in a universally acceptable way is probably not possible.
> I've even excluded
> > certain factors that would make the issue a good deal more complex.
> >
> > BTW, if anyone can help cantorial student Alyssa Forman with the question
> in her recent posting,
> > please do.  She originally contacted me and I sent her to the list.  My
> impression is that
> > there's some very impressive research going on at HUC (look at what  she's
> doing for her
> > dissertation) and we should support it.  One of their faculty, Marc
> Kligman, had an article in a
> > recent Ethnomusicology on maqam in Syrian Jewish Shabbat prayer that I
> found fascinating.
> >
> > Shalom,
> >
> >
> >
> > Ari Davidow wrote:
> >
> > > >How much of it is music and how much of it is singing.
> > >
> > > Singing isn't music? I think a lot of us would have trouble with that!
> > >
> > > Did you mean to ask how much of the Bear Family anthology was
> instrumental music vs. singing?
> > >
> > > ari
> > >
> > > Ari Davidow
> > > ari (at) ivritype(dot)com
> > > list owner, jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org
> > > the klezmer shack: http://www.klezmershack.com/
> > >
> >
> > --
> > 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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