Labels….

I’m glad that we’ve stirred some ideas regarding Jewish Music definitions. Thanks to all for voicing meaningful comments. While so much of the internet up-and-back conversation these days is vacuous and mean-spirited, it is especially gratifying to see thought-out positions that are being stated out of a love and respect for Jewish Music. One of my goals is to show how labels are limiting, and not particularly helpful when discussing specifics. So here is an assignment for everyone. In fact I have given this assignment to a class that I teach to local High School seniors. Listen to the following two songs and do an objective evaluation of whether the words and the music are complementary. In other words, do you feel that the musical treatment gives meaning or even added meaning to the texts. I have very strong opinions about these matters and look forward to stating them in the next Blog installment. In the interim, I eagerly await your thoughts and comments. The two songs are Aron Razels’ Chagiga, and Ari Boiangiu’s Al Naharos Bavel. You can hear both songs by clicking here.

I’ll be talkin’ to ya’.

EZ