<p>Debbie Friedman’s music is beautiful. She died way too young. </p>
<p>I can’t yet your link to play, P3T.</p>
<p>I think that for an interfaith Passover service which sounds like a lovely idea… you cannot go wrong with Dayenu or Chad Gadya but hopefully an explanation of what these songs represent in terms of the Passover seder will be part of the program… as they are specific to Passover, not really Jewish cultural music.</p>
<p>As my daughter taught me, "don’t say ‘No, but.’ Say “Yes, and.”</p>
<p>Why hold this young man to a simple menu? Passover seder is home-based, so the music everyone sings around their table is musically simple and very catchy for easy sing-alongs. As it should be.</p>
<p>There is also complex music by fine Jewish musicians “about” Passover themes – freedom, faith, perseverence, nationhood. </p>
<p>Lots of klezmer tunes are instrumental, only. The title is important. If he were to choose a klezmer melody whose title indicates it’s about a bride-and-groom, or the destruction of Vilna, well, that makes no sense for his requirement that it relate closely to Passover.</p>
<p>But if he finds a klezmer melody he likes whose title indicates something about Spring, faith in God, family love, or the other themes mentioned above, those are about Passover. I think it’d sound wonderful if he could begin with 1 or 2 simple seder singalong melodies such as Dayenu or Chad Gadya. Musically, I think those bear repeating only once or twice in a concert setting (too few notes). Then move on to something more complex, musically, with a title connected to a Passover theme.</p>
<p>My suggestion of a Medley was to combine all of our thoughts in this thread, so that his presentation is both authentic and musically intriguing, within the teacher’s assignment.</p>
<p>You could also go for Jewish themes: Handel’s Israel in Egypt comes to mind. </p>
<p>The granddaddy of the modern Jewish music movement is Shlomo Carlsbach, who is now the subject of a Broadway musical, “Soul Doctor.” </p>
<p>He may also want to get a CD of the group Safam; they have a double CD of Chanukah and Passover music.
<a href=“http://www.safam.com/albums-chanukah-passover.shtml[/url]”>http://www.safam.com/albums-chanukah-passover.shtml</a></p>
<p>JYM, I hope this is a better link: <a href=“https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/debbie-friedman/id41446466[/url]”>Debbie Friedman on Apple Music;
<p>The Jewish Song Book…the heart and homor of a People has some interesting songs.</p>
<p>How bout Alan Sherman, “Hello Muddah Hello Faddah”? My alltime favorite.</p>
<p>The song Hello Muddah…et al, is in the Jewish Song book.</p>
<p>
It is my son’s job to explain the piece of music chosen. I hope he does a good job with that because I’m not helping him! I’m giving him places to look and I will happily listen while he practices the music, but I am hoping that he will do the work well and really learn and share something from this experience.</p>
<p>I think perhaps a question to ask is “if this were the other way around, what would be appropriate?” I can’t answer it but I personally would feel weird if it was, say, December and someone Christian showed up to play an Easter song. My reaction would be, “Isn’t there something more fitting?”</p>
<p>Yes, Hanukkah happens this time of year but it has no relation at all to Christian holidays. And Pesach (Passover) is in the spring and relates specifically to Easter. But every week there are services on Friday night and Saturday morning and those have music. </p>
<p>A popular Debbie Friedman song that is a version of a regular prayer might be appealing. It’s Mi Shebeirach and is sung in many congregations as a substitute for the traditional prayer/song. It’s simply (and especially in Debbie’s version) a prayer for healing of the body and soul and has the advantage of being partly in Hebrew, partly in English. There are versions of her singing this in youtube clips and the music is very simple.</p>
<p>
A little off-topic, but did you know that Messiah was written as an Easter oratorio? The Hallelujah Chorus relates to the resurrection, not the birth.</p>
<p>We now return you to your regularly scheduled program.</p>
<p>It’s Friday. A little Craig Taubman for you.</p>
<p>L’cha l’cha dodi, likrat likrat kalah…</p>
<p>
You are missing something. Different kids in my church are doing as many different Jewish and Muslim holidays and festivals as there are kids. It is not singling out Passover, this just happens to be what my kid chose and I am the one posting, so my question is about my own kid (and isn’t everything with me?). And the Jewish and Muslim kids are doing something to learn about and share the Jewish and Christian holidays.</p>
<p>There’s some really nice music for Shabbat.</p>
<p>They aren’t all doing music, some are writing skits, some are making posters or food. My kid is a lazy musician, so I thought this was my best bet for him to get something out of the experiene. Other than food.</p>
<p>Then all the best to him, lazy musician and all!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>No, not necessarily.</p>
<p>As a child, every seder I attended was here:</p>
<p>[East</a> Midwood Jewish Center](<a href=“http://www.emjc.org/]East”>http://www.emjc.org/)</p>
<p>GolfFather, the cantor at the East Midwood Jewish Center helped my daughter learn her Torah portion, helped me rent one of the EMJC’s Torahs, and conducted a Havdala service at a Chinatown dim sum hall a few years back! (She’s 17.5 now.) What a beautiful building they have!</p>