Badger Badger Badger

Why does this sound Jewish to me???

Update: Link was broken. It's fixed now.

Pearls of Antiquity

The Jewish Press letters section this week features some responses to Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser's screed against secular influences in Jewish music. I will hopefully address his assertions in depth at a later date as time permits. The main problem I have with these types of presentations is the fact that the writers – in this case Rabbi Goldwasser – tend to present only one side of a controversial issue, citing only the sources backing up their point of view, without acknowledging that there are many reliable dissenting shittos. There's nothing wrong with adopting a stringent approach, but intellectual honesty demands acknowledging the existence of another legitimate side to the debate.

Here are the responses:

Non-Jewish Melodies (I)

The outrageous denunciation by Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser (Jewish Press, March 19) of melodies not written specifically for Orthodox Jewish purposes smacks of a medieval type of thinking that, unfortunately, characterizes much of today`s right-wing Orthodoxy. To imply that simple musical tunes — nothing more than a combination of musical notes — will in any way have a corrupting influence goes beyond any attempt at rational thinking. (Rabbi Goldwasser had previously gone so far as to state that secular melodies corrupt one’s neshama.)

Now, if he had denounced the often licentious and disgusting lyrics that some modern- day songs contain, I would certainly support his assertions. But instead he issued a blanket condemnation of all non-Jewish melodies, even if they have Orthodox Jewish themes and words as their lyrics.

Maybe Rabbi Goldwasser does not recall that the Lubavitcher Rebbe permitted his chassidim to make the French national anthem into a niggun. The Rebbe stated that by doing so one raises something that is not holy into the realm of holiness.

Anyone who finds himself spiritually corrupted by a secular melody alone — especially one that’s been made into an Orthodox Jewish song — is more likely to suffer from a mental illness than any spiritual threat.

Robert M. Solomon, Brooklyn, NY

Non-Jewish Melodies (II)

Rabbi Goldwasser may be a wonderful spiritual leader and a man of great midos, but apparently he’s not up on his history. Torah Jews have been appropriating non-Jewish melodies for centuries. The melodies of many chassidishe niggunim were adopted from non-Jewish sources — the first Lubavitcher Rebbe, Schneur Zalman of Liadi, did this with “Napoleon’s March”; another Chabad favorite, “Niggun Shamil,” was written by an imprisoned Ukrainian peasant who longed for his homeland.

In addition, the melody of the beloved Chanukah song “Maoz Tzur” is actually based on the tune of several 16th- century German folksongs (“Ich weiss ein Meidlein huebsch und fein,” “Van oninck Maximilian,” and “So weiss ich eins”).

Kalman Fischer, New York, NY

Thanks, E!

Hashkafah.com Discussion Board

Ira Silber's sister posts on theHashkafah.com thread which mirrored some of the memories of Ira posted here.

She writes:

This is Ira's sister writing. It is still too hard for me to write anything at length, other than saying thank you to all of you who took the time to write about Ira ZA"L. It means so much to me, to his kids and to all his friends. Our pain is great, as is our loss. He was a precious brother and person. We are not telling my mother, and I was able to sit SHiva here in Yerushalayim without her 'catching on'. If anyone of you has any more good thoughts and memories, please add them, it is a great comfort. Be Blessed.

Rochel Rena Silber Har Nof, Yerushalayim

If the person who decided to post those had included a link to our site, the family would be able to read all of the pieces we've posted.

Afikoman Gift Suggestions

It's that time of year again; when people start wondering what to get their kids for Afikoman presents.

Blog in Dm is pleased to offer up some helpful music-related suggestions.

First up is Grunt: Pigorian Chant from Snouto Domoinko De Silo, a book/CD set by Sandra Boynton.



Here's the Washington Post's description:

Inevitably, the craze for Gregorian Chant in the past few years had to provoke a backlash; the only question was when and in what form it would arrive. One answer is a book titled "Grunt." Its front cover has a cartoon of four pigs, holding candles, looking reverent and floating against a sky-blue background with fleecy clouds-a visual echo of the cover on a best-selling disc by the Benedictine monks of Santo Domingo de Silos, who stated the craze. Inside the cover is a compact disc of "Pigorian Chant" performed by the "Ad Hog Camerata." The music sounds like authentic Gregorian chant, and the singing-under the direction of two well-credentialed directors-is quite good. Some of the texts are in authentic (though not liturgical) Latin, for example: "Ecce Macdonaldus senex, qui fundum habet" (Behold Old MacDonald, who has a farm"). Others are in pig Latin-for example, "Y-whay are-ay e-way ere-hay?" E way are-ay ere-hay o-taying-say ad nauseam." Sophomoric? Of course, but also occasionally cute. And, we might add, sui generis.

Next up is Mad Maestro!



Amazon's description:

The city has announced plans to destroy the concert hall! Enter the hero, Takt, a young conductor attempting to recruit the best musicians so they can put on a mega concert to save the performance hall. In order to accomplish this, Takt must travel around the city making people happy with his music and recruiting them for his orchestra. Among the recruits: a lion, a supermodel, a fisherman, and space aliens. Once he has his ensemble together, it's time for the big show: a musical extravaganza at the symphony hall. Perform perfectly and you will save the hall and keep music alive for generations to come. The game features 11 levels, including the epic performance at the symphony hall. Touch-sensitive controls allow you to feel the music. The soundtrack features Brahms, Strauss, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Schubert, Beethoven, and more.

Look Ma, No Instruments

The Jewish Week writes about Jewish acapella.

MBD sings Yechi

Here's a report on the "Meshichist" rally in Israel from Chabad.info
The article notes:

The evening concluded with singing by Dovid Hertz, the performer Chaim Avraham and Mordechai Ben David. The crowd danced enthusiastically, as well as joining in with the performers when they sang "Yechi."

More Memories of Ira Silber Z"L

Psachya Septimus writes:

I remember the first time and the last time I saw Ira. The first time was in 1986. I was a college kid fresh back from studying in Israel, trying to establish myself in the business with a borrowed keyboard & amp. I was picking up my kid sister from Shulamit Yeshiva, and I had an hour to kill. I looked up, and there was the sign for Ruach Orchestra. A smaller sign on the door said "Come on up & say Hi." So I did.

I had always been intimidated about trying out for the bands, but the sign looked so friendly that I walked right in. And sitting in the office were two of my childhood idols - Ira Silber and Shmoo Klaver. (Shmoo, if you're reading this - sorry.) I still remember how kind they were to me. Instead of treating me like a dumb starstruck kid coming to waste their time (which I was), they were very friendly and treated me seriously. Ira took out an old keyboard & had me sight-read something, and I sang for them. Eventually, they had me sit in on a few gigs, and, relatively quickly, I was doing gigs with them.

Ira was the first guy in the business to give me leads. When I made the inevitable rookie mistakes (once I gave the guys a 10-minute break on a smorg - THE CUSTOMER WAS FURIOUS!), Ira would call me up, and gently discuss my transgressions. I never felt that he was scolding me - it was more of a clarification of events, with Ira totally on my side. In this way, I learned the business of club-dating in a non-pressure-cooker situation.

In later years, I didn't see Ira so frequently - as Shimmy & Lenny pointed out, keyboard guys don't see each other that often. I did work with him occasionally when he drummed for the Homowack lounge band. I remember his warm smile and gentle presence. At the time, the Homowack show band featured a real firecracker of an Israeli pianist. I remember Ira turning to me and saying, "I would give anything to be able to play like that guy." In fact, Ira was no slouch on the keyboards himself, but it was refreshing to see his combination of humility and appreciation for those who had reached the next level.

The last time I saw Ira was a few weeks ago, in the Neginah office. I was there on some business, and Ira was there in his corner office. I asked him how he was doing, and he said, "Not so well." I knew that to be a fact, as I had recently subbed for him during one of his hospital stays. He had been in poor health for years, yet he still had that gentle smile on his face. We talked about this and that for a few minutes, and we said goodbye. I never dreamed it would be for the last time.

Ira was one of the true gentlemen of the business. With him, it was never about ego, or attitude, or any of the silliness that often pervades the JM scene. He preferred to be behind the scenes - arranging the lead sheets, backboning the band on keys, and leaving the limelight to others. He will be greatly missed, and never forgotten.

Mitzvah Update!!!

Following up on our earlier post, Blog in Dm just received the following email

Certainly, I understand. Though it seems that they recorded and shared that recording intentionally, from some of the conversation, it's hard to tell what's going on.

So far you've been the first person to recognize the source of any of the mic in tracks.

The website now notes that:

"This mic in track has been taken down by request."

Blog in Dm gets results! And some of the vocalists out there owe us a big "Shkoiach!"

More Pesach Cleaning

Velvel finds an old Country Yossi mag with the following letter to the editor:

Dear Country Yossi,

As an avid concert-goer, I would like to express my concern over the kind of music making its way into our Yiddishe community. I attended a concert recently and greatly enjoyed the performers. However, I was shocked and offended by the jazzy, rap-style music of one group. Had I wanted a rocky, meaningless, and downright repulsive performance, I could have gone to a rock concert or tuned into some funky FM station.

Are these the role models we would like for our children? Is this the style of music befitting a frum community?

A Concerned Concert Goer

Velvel has no comment... but I do. I'm pretty sure that this writer has no idea what jazz or rap are. He just "knows" that they are bad. The appropriate style of music for the frum community is apparently cheesy pop/rock.

Ad-mission

Velvel reveals what a Jewish magazine cover looks like without ads.

Blog in Dm Does A Mitzvah

It's Mitzvah Day at Blog in Dm and we've just sent the following email to the host of a website we discovered while surfing. The site hosts audio clips of "found music" downloaded from people's computers, apparently without their knowledge.No link supplied for reasons that should be self explanatory.

Hi there,

I listened to the track of folk songs you posted on your site on 11/5/03. I was quite surprised to find that I recognize the singers. The vocalists on that track -- although you couldn't tell it from this recording -- are popular recording artists on the New York Orthodox Music scene. Many of these singers donate their services regularly to perform for sick kids, and the recording you posted captures them doing just that. In this case, they are performing for a cancer patient. I know the doctors they mention as being present and they are both oncologists at Memorial Sloan Kettering here in NYC.

In light of this, it would probably be appropriate to take down this track, as I think it contains personal information that really ought not be publicized.

Thanks!

Here's how the website in question obtained the recording.

A "mic in track" is a recording made on a PC using MusicMatch Jukebox, a music utility packaged with many new PC's that allows the user to record from the microphone input of the PC's sound card and save the recording in mp3 format. The default filename is "mic in track" followed by a number.

If that user also happens to be running a file-sharing program (WinMX, Audiognome, Kazaa, etc.), and shares the directory in which the mic in track is stored, then these personal recordings can be easily downloaded from the user's computer. The vast majority of them are either silent or uninteresting, but many are like Christmas presents giftwrapped in nondescript serial numbers. They represent unique examples of audio vérité.

We're considering this a mitzvah both because of the personal info contained within the 24 minute long audio track, and because the singers would (or should) be quite embarrassed to have this out there. It reminds us of Linda McCartney, v'hameivin yavin!

Something Fishy

Aryeh Dworkin is comparing Billy Joel to gefilte fish.

Moshiach, Moshiach, Moshiach... Oy, Oy, Oy!

Protocols has info on the upcoming Meshichist rally in Crown Heights at which MBD is the featured entertainment. SIW notes:

Lastly, there's the promise of a "Special appearance by world famous Chasidic singer Mordechai ben David." One reader who sent this declared, "I think it is alarming that a mainstream, non-Lubavitcher Jewish singing star like him might participate, giving strength, credibility and encouragement to the messianic Lubavitchers." Such a concern would seem to me yet another claim that the yeshivish/chasidic music stars are to be considered role models, or that there's much more to their motivation beyond the money; this has consistently proven to be a poor claim to make. Nonetheless, it's hard to imagine how any non-messianist Jew would take part in this event in any fashion, and I wonder if he'll go through with it.

The commentators on that post take care of this one rather nicely. Go ye and read of it for it is good.

Da Bomb!

MO Chassid on recent concerts.

Pesach Cleaning Part Deux - Old JM PR Watch

During the aforementioned Pesach cleaning, I came across the April 1998 edition of Country Yossi Magazine. The cover "story" was about Yachad, an upcoming Yerachmiel Begun produced event, featuring vocalists Yisroel Williger, Mendy Wald, Shloime Dachs, Yeedle Werdyger, Shlomo Simcha, and Nachum Stark. The entire article is really precious.

Sample 'graf:

Expounding on the yachad in Yachad, Shlomo Simcha offers his own perspective, "The concept is incredible because everyone is working together. Achdus promotes itself, and that's why it's had such a tremendous response.

There's no lack of material to highlight here; I've chosen the following because I think it was funny then and even funnier in retrospect.

Yisroel Williger: Yachad at Brooklyn College promises to be more than a concert because the success of Yachad isn't defined by convention. It's truly an original worthy of Yerachmiel Begun."

The writer continues:

And Yisroel should know. Yerachmiel has guided his career with remarkable aplomb. As Williger explains, "I am very lucky to have a real hands-on producer/manager whose attention to detail is legendary." Now, poised for the release of his second album, to follow the succes of "Voice Of A New Generation," Williger fully appreciates how precise Begun is "in terms of show, song selection, career moves, and guiding me in how and what to do." And Williger matches that commitment with his own, "We're working day in and day out to make sure that the sound is very 90's, yet very recognizably heimish, in the true tradition of Jewish music." And of course the buzz is that it will be very successful, with arrangements by Moshe Laufer, and very appealing with songs that offer intergenerational appeal.

And then there was this:

Yerachmiel's viewpoint reflects the initiative of Yachad, "Yachad integrates the best of who we are as Jewish performers and Jews. Jewish music has to be Torahdik. It should not be diminished by influences that breach our sensitivities. We must be vigilant to create entertainment venues that create a Kiddush Hashem, otherwise we contribute to a collective 'avla' that is more destructive because it takes achdus and applies it with negative ramifications." Concerned that Jewish music may be detouring from the inspirational to the outrageous and the sensational, Yerachmiel has joined forces with others in the industry and community who have expressed their concern. Shirainu - Keeping The Jewish In Jewish Music is the organization that promises to inform the public and the industry of its responsibility to maintain Jewish decorum and dignity so that we are not distracted by secular persuasions. As such, it is appropriate to inaugurate the first in a series of Shirainu concerts as a separate seating event. Noting the significance of the Shirainu concept, Yerachmiel urged, "We have seen the enthusiasm that suffuses the audience when these artists perform solo, in concert. Together, under the Yachad banner, that exuberance will be multiplied sixfold. Though the evening is expected to be overwhelmingly fun and exciting it should be in the right mood and under the proper supervision."

Unreal!
Disclaimer: The spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors are as they were in the original.

Pesach Cleaning

While cleaning for Pesach, I came across an old NY Times article, "The Rhythm Century: The Unstoppable Beat" by Jon Pareles. The entire article is quite interesting.
Here's a 'graf that I think nails why many of us find so much of today's JM dissatisfying.

Melody has become beleaguered, the victim of shrinking attention spans as well as pushier rhythm sections. Tunes, as always, are music's mnemonics, something to hum on the way home after a performance, and some composers still dedicate themselves to graceful, asymmetrical arcs and ripples of melody. Yet from Broadway to the pop Top 10, even in ballads, melody is under pressure to reduce itself to hooks that are shorter than sound bites. Leisurely phrases are giving way to terse rhythmic modules: riffs replace arias. And it's a rare hit ballad that doesn't reappear with a dance-floor remix, substituting a big beat for a gushy crescendo.

These comments could just have easily been written about the contemporary Brooklyn Jewish music scene.

Link Dump

JWR has an article on Grammy Jews.

The Exchange has a writeup on Blue Fringe manager Jon Perl. Apparently, he's now manging Soulfarm as well. Look for those bands to appear together frequently.

The Jewish Week has a pair of articles, one on Hip Hop Hoodios and the other about Avraham and Mo Rosenblum.

Here's Lev Tahor's new Album cover. It nice to see well-designed artistic covers like this one as well as the one on their previous album. All too often, JM covers are poorly designed or just plain silly. Extra credit will be awarded to anyone who can distinguish between all of the various Dedi albums.

Here's a Forward article on Dana Mase, and here's another Forward article on this year's Chol Hamoed concert at the circus.

Here's a Jerusalem Post report on Lenny Solomon.

I can't define my fans. When I go to New York, the typical Schlock Rock fan is three to 13 years old, and their parents. When I go to Arizona, I'll play at the university. I've played in England to senior citizens.

Greg Sandow has a few interesting posts on "how to kill classical music" that are thought-provoking.

Jazz & Blues Music Reviews has an interesting commentary by Mark Kleinhaut on people burning copies of his music.

Here's the Neginah acapella ad MO Chossid railed about. Tres' interesting!

Velvel compares the Mizmor L'David intro to many of the "kapitlach" Tehillim to Hip-hop, "Lehavdil."

Jewsweek reviews the Fiddler On the Roof revival.

And finally... all together now…dub dub!

Remembering Ira Silber Z"L – In Conclusion

Over the past week, this site has had numerous hits from people who have searched the 'net for info on Ira Silber and have found the past week's posts here. We have been honored to host these memories and would like to thank David Bogner for the suggestion that we do so.

If we may add one final thought; in addition to touching many with his music, both through his performances at weddings and his many Ruach recordings, Ira also influenced the JM scene through his transcriptions of many of the tunes that have become "club-date" standards. For years, musicians aspired to get their hands on a copy of Ira Silber's book, and there is probably no better source for someone wanting to learn the "smorgasbord" repertoire. Ira leaves behind a great legacy of music, but even more importantly, he leaves behind a good name among those who knew him.

Yehai zichro baruch!

Update:
Apparently, someone has decided to mirror some of the Ira Silber remembrances at Hashkafah.com.

Remembering Ira Silber Z"L cont...

Lenny Solomon writes:

I did not have a lot of contact with Ira on a personal level. He played Keyboard and so we never really got to hang on the bandstand much. However the band Ruach, specifically, the album with V'olu Moshiyim and Shoshanas Yaakov was my introduction into the world of Jewish Music. Growing up in the 70's in Queens and playing accordion, I listened to that album hundreds of times.

When I played NCSY shabbatons with Zvi Pill and Kesher we strove to be "as good as" Ruach. I never really spoke to Ira at length but he was one of the people that myself and I imagine many other musicians of my generation aspired to. Finally, I remember going as a guest to many simchas where Ira, Shmoo, and Dov would be playing and I loved listening to the beauty of their harmonies. I am not sure anyone sung together as well as those three on a gig. It was the perfect combo. Ira's passing saddened me and I wish his family and friends only simchas from now on. May he be a Meilitz Yosher for all of us here in this world!

Lenny Solomon - Bet Shemesh

Remembering Ira Silber Z"L cont...

Arkady writes:

GREAT site... Long overdue... A great contribution...

I want to publicly thank David Bogner for telling me about this site...

Hopefully, David turns out to be right, i.e. that the Mr. Incognito, who runs this site, won't edit anything out from my post....

This is what I wrote when trying to pass on the word about Ira's passing

--BEFORE THE FUNERAL --

Ira was VERY supportive to me in my early days in the Jewish music. He was willing to have fun with the music -- I think it was from Ira that I first heard Db chord instead of F major for when the Kala would walk in:)... And the harmonic and rhythmic fun didn't stop there:)...

Ira gave me extra freedom to experiment on the bandstand -- chorus, delay pedals, wireless mic, jumping around. Those Ruach gigs, with Shmoo, and Dov Levine etc. did have a LOT of Ruach!

Seeing audiences reactions, and my enthusiasm, one day Ira said -- why don't you lead the band, and so I did. Having Ira behind me was a great training, because he always pointed out, in a older brotherly fashion, what worked and what didn't. My nickname for Ira was -- Papa! He liked me calling him "papa"...

Well, in retrospect, with all his supportive WARMTH, and Teddy Bear ways, that nickname seems to fit even better now!!!

Ira will definitely be missed... but not forgotten!

THAN AFTER THE FUNERAL --

Hey guys,

This was SOME funeral for Ira ... It was like attending Grammy's... minus glitz... It was who's who, and PACKED! ... I just wish it was for a happier reason...

It seems like another lifetime ago there was a streak of years where Neshoma, and Negina had their annual office parties... Ira's funeral brought those memories back...

At those office parties, it was so refreshing to see the musicians outside of tuxedos, with their wives etc... We had more than five minutes breaks to hang out... There were slide shows, videos... lot's of laughter, jokes, food..., gifts -- fun!!!!!!!!

Even though that this "Hasidic" music scene (boy, that word "Hasidic" always sounded so stupid, to me) was always competitive, I was among those who were invited to both Neshoma, and Negina office parties, and so were Ira, Shmoo,
Dov and quite a few others... It was nice to see all the music biz unpleasantries set aside for one night, where the emphasis was on good vibe that allowed our "other sides", our HUMANITY to peak through, even if it was only for a minute or two:)...

Yes, Ira's funeral brought those memories back... So many familiar faces, after all these years... I was just wondering -- is this how we all going to
be meeting from now on... at funerals?!

Yes, it's a new century, Internet, emails and all, but ... if we all are going to get together once in a while -- why does it have to be at FUNERAL?!?!

Whether it's sports, Hollywood, politics etc. it seems like each of those industries sets aside an occasion once a year where people just hang out, laugh, and then they go back to competing... fairly or unfairly:)...

Ira's funeral brought so many of us together on a sunny, cold, windy, Monday morning, at the threshold of Spring... It reminded all of us of our mortality, sins, imperfections, fragility... and it re-emphasized, if nothing else, one thing -- the fact that we chose music as our path in life...

As the funeral service ended, there we were on that cold, windy, sunny corner in Borough Park... Nobody was rushing home, as musicians often do after another night in the music industry... There were hugs, handshakes, and the remarks like "hopefully under happier occasions... next time...". On that we all agree... Then, as that Brooklyn corner eventually cleared up,
and there were only a few musicians left... talking... one teary eye colleague mentioned a very sentimental, but very accurate "keyword" -- COMMUNITY!!! That word COMMUNITY definitely caught my ear! Yes, this "Hasidic scene" undeniably has that COMMUNITY factor to it... Sadly, funerals are more likely to remind us of that, and, on a much larger scale,
we all lived though 9/11...

Hopefully our busy lives won't flush away this COMMUNITY VIBE that we all saw at Ira's funeral...

Hopefully there won't be any more 9/11's to teach us that precious COMMUNITY LESSON:)

Hopefully we all are strong enough to avoid one of the biggest hazards in life, and particularly in our industry -- FOOD!!! Yes, those smorgs etc. can be fun, but.... :)

From the bottom of my heart, I want to wish yall, and your loved ones, if nothing else, HEALTH, LOVE and PEACE!!!

And, being partial to poetry, I'll sum this up with the lyrics to the song made famous by Al Jolson --

APRIL SHOWERS

Life is not a highway strewn with flowers,
Still it holds a goodly share of bliss,
When the sun gives way to April showers,
Here is the point you should never miss.

Though April showers may come your way,
They bring the flowers that bloom in May.
So if it's raining, have no regrets,
Because it isn't raining rain, you know, (It's raining violets,)
And where you see clouds upon the hills,
You soon will see crowds of daffodils,
So keep on looking for a blue bird, And list'ning for his song,
Whenever April showers come along.

And where you see clouds upon the hills,
You soon will see crowds of daffodils,
So keep on looking for a blue bird, And list'ning for his song,
Whenever April showers come along.
"http://www.hfmgv.org/exhibits/pic/1996/96.april.html"

Arkady
web site: www.arkady.com