re: Essay on Milken series

[Mattflight <Mattflight...>]

Seth, thanks for posting that link to the list. I would like to make some 
comments based on the article by Paul Mitchinson.

     The set of CD's on Naxos is the most public part of the Milken Archive 
of American Jewish Music (MAAJM), but not the only thing. And I agree with the 
comments by Mr. Mitchinson that the recordings have many authenticity 
questions. (And while I like having to pay the discount Naxos label price for 
the 
recordings, I think a disservice was done by recording them in Europe. I would 
much rather be paying twice as much for more authentic American Recordings.) 
What 
I think we should focus on though is how can these recordings be used 
educationally. 
     One of my early Jewish Music teachers, Lori, has been on the list 
recently asking for suggestions on recordings. And my question is how can she 
use 
these recordings to add to the diversity of her recorded examples. I went to 
the 
conference on JTS, and one of the panels I went to was on educational uses of 
the archive. Most people were thinking about day school and synagogue use. I 
mentioned that the fastest place that they will be able to make a difference 
is in higher education use.
     Lets not look at these recordings on there own, but as part of the 
larger picture of all recorded Jewish Music. I was surprised that the liner 
notes 
were commented on, the style works when they are on the back of a record 
jacket, but split notes don't work in side of a booklet without lots of page 
turning.

Matt Temkin