Re: Yes! Judaism: A HEADNOTE

[Alex Lubet <lubet001...>]

The Beatles couldn't read music, neither can Stevie Wonder.  I've heard the 
same about Naftule Brandwein.



At 05:35 PM 3/12/2003 -0500, you wrote:

>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Alex Jacobowitz" <alexbjacobowitz (at) yahoo(dot)com>
>To: "World music from a Jewish slant" <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org>
>Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2003 7:41 AM
>Subject: Re: Yes! Judaism: A HEADNOTE
>
>
> > B"H MUNICH
> > >
> > >    Our Jewish religion has so many positive aspects.
> > > It's sad that
> > >    certain factions only address the no-nos.  Where
> > > are the yes-yesses?
> > >    Why don't they speak of those things instead? The
> > > Baal-Shem Tov
> > >    addressed the positive aspects in joy and love.
> > > What a model for us
> > >    all, Chasidic or not.
> >
> > Those who read music - klezmer, classical
> > or whatever -  know what it is to "read it down",
> > that is, to play the notes through. No pushing the
> > envelope, no "interpretation", no playing "outside
> > the box". The holy Baal Shem Tov took the "text"
> > of Judaism and developed it, improvised, expanded,
> > embellished, polished it, while staying true to the
> > text. Not everyone is an artist, of course. However,
> > we can only rise above the material by mastering it
> > first. Artistry is earned, not claimed.
> >
>
>I suspect most musicians on the list'll disagree. Is there anyone who CAN'T
>think of at least one artist who only knew a few chords and wasn't too
>versatile, but managed to do something brilliant nevertheless?
>

Alex Lubet, Ph. D.
Morse Alumni Distinguished Teaching Professor of Music
Adjunct Professor of American and Jewish Studies
University of Minnesota
100 Ferguson Hall
Minneapolis, MN 55455
612 624-7840 (o)
612 699-1097 (h)
612 624-8001  ATTN:  Alex Lubet (FAX)

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