Music

Harmoniyah-Reconstructionist Music Network

Rabbi Shawn Zevit — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 21:21:20 -0500

Harmoniyah Mission Statement:

The mission of Harmoniyah (Reconstructionist Music Network) is to nurture, facilitate, and energize the evolving musical culture of Jewish civilization in accordance with the values and principles of Reconstructionism Judaism. Harmoniyah will serve to connect all who are involved in the musical transmission of our religious civilization by providing a central place for philosophical, educational, material, and logistical knowledge to be disseminated and shared by all of its members.

Background
Harmoniyah was founded as a grass roots movement by musicians attending the JRF Biennial Convention in 2004. There was a general feeling that musicians throughout the Reconstructionist movement had no apparatus by which they could network easily together. It was decided to try and build one together.

The main goals identified at that time included:

1. Create a list serve, preferably hosted by JRF.

This was achieved quickly by successful collaboration of Harmoniyah member Barry Brian with JRF Staff member R. Shai Gluskin. The list serve has over 100 subscribers. A monthly update is posted on the list by the Steering Committee Chair, and the list, while moderated, is used freely by its members to pose questions, make announcements, organize meetings, share resources, and was used very successfully to organize music events approaching the JRF biennial convention.
To sign up for the listserv you must be a member of a JRF congregation, a graduate of RRC, a member of the RRA or an individual member of JRF: Go to http://jrf.org/listserves

2. Create an on-line Music Catalogue for Reconstructionist music, with links to other resources. To be launched in phases beginning in 2007.

3. Energize Reconstructionist gatherings with music, both nationally and locally.

With the help and support of JRF Staff, Harmoniyah prepared a number of workshops and programs for the 2006 JRF Biennial Convention. This included the first North American JRF Community Kumsitz, a Music Sharing workshop, a goals setting workshop, and teaming with other groups in JRF to help with Shabbat song leading duties.

4. Provide for continuing leadership

After the convention in Portland a Steering Committee of volunteers was formed and has led the network up to the present day. The Steering Committee members were invited to join the committee by founders from Portland. The committee includes a member who is the liaison between Harmoniyah and JRF Staff. This relationship has proven to be very helpful and successful.

We are proud of what we have achieved so far with limited resources, feel we are able to acknowledge how to better concentrate these in order to achieve our goals, and look forward to the upcoming Convention in Philadelphia, and beyond.

Thank you.

Submitted by the Harmoniyah Steering Committee

Barry Brian
Hazzan Rachel Hersh Epstein
Elaine Moise
Barbara Nordstrom-Loeb
Rabbi Margot Stein
Rabbi Shawn Zevit (JRF Staff Liaison)

Doris Dyen (2007 Retreat co-chair)
Lauren Resnick (2007 Retreat co-chair)
Rabbi Shai Gluskin (JRF Web Liaison)

Other founding committee members:
Ilana Axel (Chair 2004-7)
Rabi Steve Segar (2004-7)
Cantor Sharon Hordes (2004-6)

Report from the First Harmoniyah Retreat - November, 2007

Rabbi Margot Stein — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 16:26:21 -0500

Harmoniyah Steering Committee(L-R, rear) Barry Brian (Or Hadash), Elaine Moise (Kedem), Cantor Rachel Epstein (Adat Shalom), Doris Dyen (RRC, Dor Hadash), Rabbi Shawn Zevit (JRF), (L-R, Front) Barbara Nordstrom-Loeb (Mayim Rabim), Lauren Resnick (Dor Hadash)

Music is flowing in the Reconstructionist movement! Voices raised with kavanah, moving renditions of favorite classics, and brilliant interpretations of liturgy seamlessly intermingle with fresh explorations of the meaning of God, Torah and Israel in their broadest sense.

The November, 2007 retreat of Harmoniyah: The Reconstructionist Music Network brought together more than 40 music-lovers from 20 congregations in the US and Canada. During three days of davenning, singing, jamming, and workshops, we shared new ideas and practical tools for enriching congregational worship with music from a wide variety of genres. We opened up the conversation about where our music comes from and where we think it is going. We talked about core texts and prayers, about choirs and communal music making, about the role of traditional nusah (HWD) and bold new melodies, about chanting and about electronic instruments, about Shabbat and healing services.

At the Saturday night kumsitz, a full array of musical styles was on display, from chant, blues and folk-rock to Ladino, Yiddish and klezmer offerings. And at the Sunday night panel discussion, which I had the privilege of moderating, we explored such issues as:

Can the Ashkenazic modes and melodies of many a childhood comfortably share space with Sephardic and Yemenite rhythms? Rachel Hersh Epstein’s Psalm 150 experiments with this question, producing a difficult (for us Westerners) but exquisite take on the popular sing-along psalm. As to the future, her prediction: funky fusion sounds.

Liz Bolton treated us to 8 or 9 different melodies for the Reader’s Kaddish. Many of them were easily recognized by the participants (High Holiday evening, Shabbat and so on). We did get stumped, though, on the particular nusah (HWD) for shelosh regalim between maftir and haftarah!

By being intensely personal, Shefa Gold hopes to be simultaneously universal. She spends a great deal of time with a single phrase, seeking its deeper meaning so that she can come into relationship with it before setting it to music.

Shawn Zevit believes that the leader who wishes to bring musical change must appreciate who we already are musically. Our grandparents and our childhoods are powerful influences on us all, and Shawn treated us to some of his family’s unique melodies.

What’s clear is that having a nice voice and enjoying leading congregational singing doesn’t itself prepare you for spiritual leadership and pastoral caregiving. In MIRAJ’s workshop on healing services, one of my goals was to teach lay people who sing to also lead, because the role will often be thrust upon them by virtue of their musical talent. What’s more, healing services and bedside rituals are powerful, private moments of spiritual transition that can profoundly benefit from a compassionate musical presence. Just as in other aspects of our rabbinates, the “conscious use of self” is essential. MIRAJ “consciously uses” itself in a model of shared spiritual leadership. We assert comfortably, yet yield effortlessly, whether teaching, leading joyous musical services, or giving a concert. There’s a dynamic flow among our voices. Harmony down below, in the service of creating harmony up above. Ken yehi ratzon!

Harmoniyah's web page.

This article appeared in a slightly different form in the December issue of the RRA Connections, the newsletter of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association.

Robert Glatzer: from Kol Emet in Yardley, PA

Rabbi Liz Bolton: Congregation Bet HaTikvah, Baltimore, MD

Rabbi Shawn Zevit

Reconstructionist Music Retreat - Register Online Now

Rabbi Shawn Zevit — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 21:35:43 -0400

Start: Nov 9 2007 - 5:00pm

End: Nov 12 2007 - 1:00pm

Musicians Attending the JRF Women's Retreat in Wisconsin in April, 2007
The First Retreat of Harmoniyah—Reconstructionist Music Network will be held November 9-12, 2007, in Philadelphia, PA.

Saturday and Sunday 8pm evening events are open to the general public at a nominal charge- register in advance using the registration same registration link below:

Space is limited: Register Online Now.

Join us for Shabbat services and a unique opportunity to learn with Reconstructionist clergy, lay leaders, song leaders and musicians nationwide:

music for worship
vocal and instrumental workshops
music for children and families
Saturday night Kumsitz with musical performances and song sharing (open to the public, separate registration required for non-retreat attendees)
Sunday evening panel on "Music of the Jewish People" today with Cantor Rachel Epstein, Rabbis Shefa Gold, Elizabeth Bolton, Margot Stein and Shawn Zevit, (open to the public, separate registration required for non-retreat attendees)
informal discussions, jam sessions, and more.
See attached schedule below for full details.

Workshops include:

Rabbi Elizabeth Bolton (Text and Liturgy) http://www.beittikvah.org/rabbi/index.html

Rabbi Shefa Gold (Chant and Leadership) http://www.rabbishefagold.com/

Barry Brian (Congregational Choirs)

Rabbi Shawn Zevit (Davenning Leadership) www.rabbizevit.com

Rabbi Margot Stein, Rabbi Rayzel Raphael, Juliet Spitzer of MIRAJ (Music, healing services and rituals) http://www.mirajtrio.com/

Rabbi Sigal Brier (Call and Response in Prayer) http://www.rabbisigal.com/

Cantor Rachel Hersh Epstein (Nusach) http://www.adatshalom.net/

Hazzan Eric Schulmiller (Choir, Cantor and Congregation) http://www.rsns.org/html/cantor.html

Robert Glatzer (Electronic Instruments and Prayer Services)

James Greene of RRC/Camp JRF (music and educational settings)- in combination with Reconstructionist Educators of North America Conference (see http://www.jrf.org/rena/)

Events will take place at congregation Or Hadash, Ft. Washington, PA and
the Hilton Garden Inn nearby. Home hospitality will be available. For further information, or to let us know what you would like to experience at the retreat, contact the retreat co-coordinators Doris J. Dyen, 412-521-7570) or Lauren Resnick, 412-362-1640).

Attendance is limited: register NOW!

If you are interested in presenting a workshop at the retreat. Please visit the presenter application download page.

If you need home hospitality OR can offer home hospitality, please download the attached form and follow the instructions.

Harmoniyah Conference Presenter Application

Rabbi Shawn Zevit — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 16:34:31 -0400

The Harmoniyah Music Retreat is looking for volunteer presenters to submit proposals for workshops. The application form is attached. Please contact me at szevit@jrf.org with any questions. That's also the address to which you send the completed applications.

Main retreat page.

Two New Passover Recordings Available for Free Download

Rabbi Shai Gluskin — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 00:35:58 -0400

Shabbat UnpluggedHappy Passover Everyone!

Two new recordings are now available in the resources section of this site. The first is for Hassal Siddur Pesach, the concluding prayer of the Hagaddah. The second is a recording of the Kiddush (prayer sanctifying the beginning of the holiday). Enjoy!

"In the Valley" by Rabbi Shawn Zevit

Rabbi Shawn Zevit — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:30:17 -0400

Rabbi Play the video.

Shawn Zevit singing his song, "In the Valley." This song was written initially in 1991 but never recorded until now.

Harmoniyah Music Collection

Fri, 02 Mar 2007 10:10:46 -0500

Contemporary Shalom Aleykhem
By Rabbi Steve Segar, Rabbi Shawn Zevit
New interpretation of traditional text sung to welcome the Sabbath.
Hassal Siddur Pesach
By JRF
Melody for the penultimate prayer in the Passover Haggadah, Hebrew text, transliteration, translation, and mp3 are provided.
Joyful, Soulful, Prayer
By James Greene
Original music written for Exodus 15:17-18. Introductory text includes Hebrew words, translation, and the author's intention in writing the niggun and his own personal story associated with it. Audio mp3 included.
Kiddush for Passover
By Shabbat Unplugged
Recording of the kiddush sanctification prayer said at the beginning of major holiday.
Lecha Dodi
By Elaine Moise
Setting of Lecha Dodi
Light and Dark
By Rabbi Elizabeth Bolton, Rabbi Margot L. Stein
Words and sheet music for three-part vocal harmony for a Hanukah song about differences between dark and light, good and evil. Music and Lyrics by Margot L. Stein. Arrangement by Elizabeth Bolton.
Lulay - Psalm 27
By Rabbi Margot L. Stein
A song from the closing verses of Psalm 27. Music and English translation written by Rabbi Margot Stein. Arranged and sung by MIRAJ. Audio file, Hebrew text, transliteration, and English translation are provided.
The Omer Song
By Rabbi Geela Rayzel Raphael, Juliet I Spitzer, Rabbi Margot L. Stein
Fast, fun, song about counting the omer. Lyrics and mp3 included.

Harmoniyah Music for Services

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 18:41:21 -0500

Friday Evening Service	Saturday Morning Service
Shalom Aleichem Lecha Dodi	Psalm 19

Shalom Aleichem

Contemporary Shalom Aleykhem

Rabbi Steve Segar, Rabbi Shawn Zevit

Lecha Dodi

Lecha Dodi

Elaine Moise

Psalm 19

Lulay - Psalm 27

Rabbi Margot L. Stein