{Jewish} Music and Prayer
I am a music nut. If I had my choice I would be listening to music all day long; luckily in my job I can have my iPod plugged into my head for most of the workday. I’m always on the look out for new, good music, and my tastes range from my favorite band R.E.M. to Motown to the Beatles to contemporary folk to bluegrass to pop to alternative to classical… it goes on. And I love Jewish music, but sometimes it’s hard to find good Jewish music that isn’t, well, cheesy. And music during a service can make or break the kavanah. I am not a fan of Debbie Friedman (though I don’t discount the incredible musical impact she has had on the Reform movement) and Craig Taubman kind of bugs me (plus his L’cha Dodi brings to mind a frightful image of striptease thanks to some good friends of mine, unfortunate on Friday Night Live at my temple).
There have been a number of Friday nights when I have arrived at temple in one mood and the music changes my mood, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. The most frustrating moment for me usually comes when it is time to sing the Mi Chamocha. This is a song that is about redemption, about joyously praising God after the miracle of the parting of the Sea of Reeds. And so many times the version we sing, or the way in which it is sung, it sounds more like a dirge or a funeral march than a joyous piece of music. When I was at the URJ Biennial this past December I had the opportunity to go to an all-music weekday morning service. The energy in the room was amazing and I felt so connected to my prayer, to the people around me, and to God. It makes me sad to encounter music that does not fit the mood of a prayer or changes the feel of the service in a negative way. I have had this discussion a number of times with my rabbi re: Friday Night Live at my temple. The first few times we did FNL it was great; the energy was amazing, the music was new, and the kavanah was one suited for prayer. Since then, however, a lot of the time it feels more like a show than a service. The band has grown to the point that it takes over the entire bimah and the atmosphere is much less prayer-ful. Recently we have made adjustments to lessen this, re-locating the band to the side and off the bimah and not directly in front of people making it less of a stage. But it still isn’t where I feel it should be and I don’t know how we would get it there necessarily.
Just as music during a service helps me connect to prayer and God, music in my every day life helps me connect to my spirituality as well. Listed below are my current Jewish music favorites. Please comment with their own favorites!
- Dan Nichols. He is coming to my temple this weekend as our artist-in-residence; it’s the 5th or 6th year that we’ve had him and it’s always a great time. If you don’t know who he is, or have never heard his music, you can download a couple of songs from his website, www.jewishrock.com. When he leads Friday night services it is very special and spiritual, providing a connection that only music can. Dan was my first introduction to Jewish music outside of a service setting. During my conversion process I listened to him a lot and it helped me to form a strong Jewish connection. Favorite song: Kehillah Kedoshah
- Moshav. I had heard about them a few years ago but it’s only been in the last year or so that I began to listen to Moshav (formally Moshav Band). Beyond being incredible musicians they bring a great spirituality and social awareness to their music without you feeling like you need to be sitting in temple to listen to it. Favorite song: When I’m Gone
- Blue Fringe. A group out of Yeshiva University, they have great text-based and tradition-based Jewish rock music. It’s not all great, and mentions of the moshiach kind of turn me off, but all in all, a good band. Favorite song: Flippin’ Out
- Josh Nelson Project. I don’t know much about Josh Nelson yet (not to be confused with Joshua Nelson), but I saw him at the Biennial this year and he has a great energy to his music. I’m not sure if his album is out yet, but from I have a few songs from a sampler CD and currently am enjoying it. Favorite song: none yet
- Matisyahu. I’m not a big fan of reggae-tinged rap, and I don’t listen to him a lot, but I respect what he is trying to do and he is quite talented. Favorite song: Lord Raise Me Up
I listened to Rick Recht for awhile, and he’s okay, but I would classify him as more cheesy than not. I’ve heard a little bit of Rav Shmuel, but not enough to say I like him or not. The song I heard was decent, but I am reserving judgment until I hear more. I enjoy a couple of songs from artists I don’t otherwise listen to. These include “Ki Va Moed” by C. Lanzbom & Noah Solomon and “L’cha Dodi” by Six13, an a cappella group.
So, what makes Jewish music, well, Jewish? Should it be about Jewish things? Should it be about God? Or should it just be music by Jews? And are we sometimes so starved for Jewish music that we’ll listen to crap just because it’s Jewish?
(x-posted in part to my own blog)
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I posted over at your blog, but I’ll post here as well, and add some thoughts. I think this is a perplexing question, and one that many often ask about Jewish writers — what makes a writer, well, a Jewish writer. Someone like Saul Bellow was obviously a Jewish writer, but some others, well, maybe not so much. Was Emma Lazarus a Jewish writer, despite her complete ignorance about things Jewish? Who can truly say! To me, though, Jewish music is music with a Jewish theme and thus is typically by Jews. It doesn’t have to necessarily be biblical per se, like much of Matisyahu (although, I can’t listen to his newer album, he was trying way too hard to appease the Christian audience with that). And now, for what I posted on your other blog:
Hey there
You should check these out!!!
Zohar
Idan Reichel Project
Yael Naim
There’s also the Kroke Trio, which is some snazzy klezmer. As well as Black Ox Orkestar.
Oh, and also … a good blog for the Jewish music is here: http://jewishmuzic.blogspot.com/
I enjoyed your post. I’ve been craving some really great music. Particularly some good folk music. I love klezmer, but also have craved something with a little more Americana. Woody Guthrie apparently had some Jewish connections, through his wife I think. John Zorn’s Klezmatics did an album recently of uncovered Guthrie stuff called Wonder Wheel. Zorn’s got a label outfit called Tzadik that has some great stuff http://www.tzadik.com/.
Chana Rothman is a descent attempt at some folksy stuff. Best I’ve seen so far, but still not on par with some turn of the century folk. Dan Zanes, formerly of the Del Fuegos, now does some great children’s music. I understand he has some Jewish roots? He usually has at least one spiritual on his albums that I like to listen to because they usually focus on Prophets like Ezekial or are Judeo/Christian neutral with references to God and not Jesus that make them easily listened to by either. Pharaoh’s Daughter is also some great stuff. Great conversation on a good topic. Keep it going!.
Chaviva and Jethro,
Thanks for your replies. I’m definitely going to check out your recommendations!
Jenny
I am also on the lookout for some good Jewish music. I love klezmer music but I also look for more modern Jewish music. My all-time favorite singer is Jordan Chaviv (http://www.jewishrnb.com/).
This post inspired me to give a lot of thought to the role of music in my own Judaism. Here are a few things I’ve stumbled over in the past few years that I really like:
-Klezmer. This was one of the first things that drew me back to Judaism from my long estrangement. I have several recordings by the Klezmer Conservatory Band, but love Boston’s Shirim Klezmer (they played at our wedding) just as much. I find some stuff by the Klezmatics irresistible, too.
-Ethnic Jewish music. I used to love walking through the Central Bus Station in Tel Aviv and hear the Mizrachi (Eastern/North African) Jewish music blaring from the shops. I think music can be one way for Jews from one distinct culture to share some of who they are with Jews from other cultures. Ofra Haza z"l and Achinoam Nini (Noa) are two of the great ambassadors of Yemenite music in particular. Here’s a lovely video of Noa singing with two other Yemenite women.
-Lenny Solomon. He is a neighbor of mine (and we have kids in gan together) and tours regularly in the U.S. His Shlock Rock (clever, amusing lyrics on Jewish subjects set to classic rock ‘n’ roll tunes) is a hoot, and my family (children too) like his own compositions.
-Salamone Rossi. The lone Jew (thanks to the Mendelssohns’ conversion to Christianity) in the classical musical world. Beautiful stuff, though not particularly Jewish-sounding.
Thanks for the thought-provoking post. I’m still thinking…
Should it be about Jewish things?
Yes absolutely!
Should it be about God?
Yes absolutely but not necessarily!
Or should it just be music by Jews?
Yes of course it should be by Jews!
And are we sometimes so starved for Jewish music that we’ll listen to crap just because it’s Jewish?
Yes indeed, especially at the beginning of our journey into Judaism/Jewish life. And to be honest I don’t think that’s a bad thing, because everyone needs to start somewhere and we aren’t going to know what is crap and what what isn’t crap or what speaks to us Jewishly, until we start trying trying things out.
I, in many ways, take a Kaplanian (An evolving religious civilization) view of Judaism and art and culture are a big part of that. During my conversion process, the rabbi went to great lengths to clearly point out that Judaism consists of three pillars, G-D, Torah and Peoplehood. Jewish music depending on who is making it and who is listening to it, can actually fit into any or all of the three pillars. For example Hassidic nigunim are songs/hymns which aim to joyously make Jews more conscious and connected to G-D. Then there’s “Talmudic Melody” and the way we sing our prayer services, as a means of connecting to Torah. Last but not least, there’s always agree it should tradition of Jewish folk music from around the world. All of which are unique expressions of life, love and struggle as a Jew.
All of these in my opinion are authentic and legitimate expressions of Jewishness and therefore, count as “ Jewish music”. Any arguments as to which types of music or Jewish subject matter is more authentic or legitimate, is a matter of speculation and subjective in my opinion.
What makes the Jewish is the fact that it’s being sung by Jews who are living at a Jewish life, whether that’s secular or religious. Even the young punk rock Jew who sings about life in Israel, as a young punk rock Jew, is making a legitimate contribution.
Wow. I never thought a post about music would elicit such great response. Thanks for the recs from everyone. I’m looking forward to checking them outs
Dear Colleagues and Friends of Jewish music,I’ve just written a book called "Jewish Music as Midrash: What Makes Music Jewish?" After 500 music publications, 50 CDs and thirty-five years of thinking about the subject you might be interested in what I’ve concluded along with the two CDs that musically illustrate the four criteria that make music Jewish. By the way, the four criteria are not how it sounds, who wrote it, if it is vocal or instrumental, or when it was written and performed.