(no subject)
Apr. 17th, 2011 12:16 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
seekingferretThe Omer is the period of 49 days between the second day of Passover and the beginning of Shavuos. It was a period of prayer for the farmers of Israel waiting to see if they'd get adequate rain for their wheat harvest, when they would bring sheaves of wheat to offer at the Temple on Shavuos. It's also a commemoration of the period between the Exodus from Egypt and the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, a period of waiting and uncertainty about the future of the Jewish people.
It also developed other traditions over time. A plague took tens of thousands of Jewish students during the time of Rabbi Akiva, and in response the custom developed to take on certain mourning customs during the first 33 days of the Omer. Many people don't cut their hair, don't have weddings, and don't listen to instrumental music.
This is a minhag- a custom- and it doesn't carry the full force of Jewish law. Different people have different ways of observing it. Some avoid only live music, while some also avoid recorded music with instruments. My personal policy is that I don't listen to live music, ***UNLESS I REALLY REALLY WANT TO***. If my friends are going out for a night on the town and there's going to be a band in the bar, I won't go. If a performer I love is doing a rare New York show, I'll probably make an exception.
And I listen to all kinds of recorded music without making distinction. But in a nod to people with a different minhag, I do tend to listen to a little more a cappella music than usual. So I thought I'd share some with you.
Most Jewish music sucks. Most Jewish a cappella music, therefore, sucks, too. But here's some stuff that I think doesn't. In a variety of styles. (Warning: If you observe kol isha in recorded music, there are women's voices here.)
Chag Sameach!
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"Shir Hamaalot" - Composed by Salamone de Rossi, performed by King Singers. Polyphonic choral music a la Monteverdi, by a Mantuan Jew who decided to write a new synagogue liturgy. Lyric is Psalm 124.
"Uzziel" Composed by John Zorn, performed by Mycale. World music-infused four part harmony. Lyric: "My strength and my song are from God, and he will be my salvation," Exodus 15:2.
"Kmo B'tmunah" Original by Rita, performed by Tufts Shir Appeal. A nice example of contemporary collegiate a cappella, well-produced and well-sung. Song is an Israeli pop tune, presented to an American audience that mostly doesn't know it.
"Keh Moshe" Trad., performed by Oni Wytars Ensemble. Mediterranean Jewish music of the middle ages, with a perfectly executed call and response.
"Nachamu" Performed by Ani V'Ata. A more traditional collegiate a cappella piece. This is a song that pretty much every Jewish college a cappella group has in their bag of tricks, and I honestly don't know who originated it. All I know is that when Ani V'Ata sang it, they asked the audience not to sing along because everyone knew it. The verse is from Isaiah 40, offering comfort to Israel and promises that the exile will end.
"Adon Olam" Performed by Ani V'ata. This is a fun one- A classic part of the prayer liturgy, sung to a Billy Joel tune.
"Tutim" By Ethnix, Performed by Chicago Rhythm and Jews. Another Israeli pop song turned into American college a cappella. This song uses military metaphors to discuss a broken relationship.
I used to have a nice a cappella version of Carlebach's Cracow nign, but I don't know where it went. I was going to throw in one of my chazzanos recordings, too, but I couldn't find an a cappella one in my collection that didn't use God's name. I'll take recommendations!
And I don't have an mp3, but of course let's finish with the Maccabeats "Candlelight!
It also developed other traditions over time. A plague took tens of thousands of Jewish students during the time of Rabbi Akiva, and in response the custom developed to take on certain mourning customs during the first 33 days of the Omer. Many people don't cut their hair, don't have weddings, and don't listen to instrumental music.
This is a minhag- a custom- and it doesn't carry the full force of Jewish law. Different people have different ways of observing it. Some avoid only live music, while some also avoid recorded music with instruments. My personal policy is that I don't listen to live music, ***UNLESS I REALLY REALLY WANT TO***. If my friends are going out for a night on the town and there's going to be a band in the bar, I won't go. If a performer I love is doing a rare New York show, I'll probably make an exception.
And I listen to all kinds of recorded music without making distinction. But in a nod to people with a different minhag, I do tend to listen to a little more a cappella music than usual. So I thought I'd share some with you.
Most Jewish music sucks. Most Jewish a cappella music, therefore, sucks, too. But here's some stuff that I think doesn't. In a variety of styles. (Warning: If you observe kol isha in recorded music, there are women's voices here.)
Chag Sameach!
DOWNLOAD ME
"Shir Hamaalot" - Composed by Salamone de Rossi, performed by King Singers. Polyphonic choral music a la Monteverdi, by a Mantuan Jew who decided to write a new synagogue liturgy. Lyric is Psalm 124.
"Uzziel" Composed by John Zorn, performed by Mycale. World music-infused four part harmony. Lyric: "My strength and my song are from God, and he will be my salvation," Exodus 15:2.
"Kmo B'tmunah" Original by Rita, performed by Tufts Shir Appeal. A nice example of contemporary collegiate a cappella, well-produced and well-sung. Song is an Israeli pop tune, presented to an American audience that mostly doesn't know it.
"Keh Moshe" Trad., performed by Oni Wytars Ensemble. Mediterranean Jewish music of the middle ages, with a perfectly executed call and response.
"Nachamu" Performed by Ani V'Ata. A more traditional collegiate a cappella piece. This is a song that pretty much every Jewish college a cappella group has in their bag of tricks, and I honestly don't know who originated it. All I know is that when Ani V'Ata sang it, they asked the audience not to sing along because everyone knew it. The verse is from Isaiah 40, offering comfort to Israel and promises that the exile will end.
"Adon Olam" Performed by Ani V'ata. This is a fun one- A classic part of the prayer liturgy, sung to a Billy Joel tune.
"Tutim" By Ethnix, Performed by Chicago Rhythm and Jews. Another Israeli pop song turned into American college a cappella. This song uses military metaphors to discuss a broken relationship.
I used to have a nice a cappella version of Carlebach's Cracow nign, but I don't know where it went. I was going to throw in one of my chazzanos recordings, too, but I couldn't find an a cappella one in my collection that didn't use God's name. I'll take recommendations!
And I don't have an mp3, but of course let's finish with the Maccabeats "Candlelight!
(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-17 01:11 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-17 01:29 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-18 01:29 pm (UTC)1)Contemporary life in America really doesn't support continuing the prohibition. The Gemara makes it very, very clear that its Kol Isha rules exist within the context of ancient oriental civilization and are only in force when the conventions of that civilization rule the day.
2)Despite this, there are many times where it's better to go along with the community and its traditions than try to stir things up just because you're right. There are spaces where I will listen to female voices, and spaces where I can accept the fact that female voices don't have a place.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-17 04:37 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-17 08:09 pm (UTC)In particular:
Mycale: Book of Angels Vol. 13
Sacred Voices
Unpealed
I can't find places online to buy some of the other albums, though, and some are likely out of print. But I can send more if you ask for something in particular.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-19 09:30 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-18 04:29 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-18 01:21 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-04-23 07:43 am (UTC)WAIT. THIS IS A THING THAT EXISTS??
My brother will have it, I'm sure. I am going to ask him this weekend.