Chanukah Is Coming To Town

Singing in Kol Shirah is actually pretty hard work, especially if you stand up and pay attention (which Carol seems to expect, since she's up there -- well, standing up and paying attention).  Carol's _very_ sweet, but she tells us when to _breathe_ *whew*

Then there's the lyrics  -- "words" to neophytes like me -- and the rhythm -- almost as challenging to _spell_ as it is to "do." 

Funny thing about singing in the choir is that the music runs left to right, and we're singing Hebrew, which runs right to left, right?  So -- How Exactly Does This Thing Work?

I'll let you in on a little, very closely guarded secret:Â We sing transliterated Hebrew *gasp*  Yep.  Not only does the choir sing flawless Hebrew lyrics, we do it without seeing a single letter in the Hebrew alefbet. Well, that's not entirely accurate, but you get the picture.  Or secret.  Don't tell anyone! 

We do work hard, even get double pay when we have to clap or bob up and down when it's demanded by the music/composer.  Everybody at High Holidays enjoyed the foot stamp punctuating Rom' Mu (sung while the Torah was being carried through the congregation), so maybe Cantor Altshul can find more music that calls for extemporaneous percussion. 

Even though it's October, we're already rehearsing Chanukah music. We're singing some old standards: I have a little dreidl, Rock of ages, L'cha Dodi, well, it's not all "Chanukah," but still....  Old wine in new bottles. 

If you come to services December 7 maybe you can help me figure out why Kol Shirah is willing to work so hard just to sing for a little while during Friday night services.  See you there--bj