Archive
Short stories of Dora Klinova will precede Dec. 26 dinner hour
SAN DIEGO–Dora Klinova, a Ukrainian Jewish immigrant, will read some of her humorous works at 5:30 p.m., Saturday, December 26, at the Petrushka Russian Restaurant, which is celebrating its move to its new location at 2312 El Cajon Boulevard.
A donation of $5 is asked for the program, titled “Life is Supposed To Be Fun.” Attendees who remain for a dinner of Eastern European cuisine will receive a discount of 10 percent on their dinners.
Reservations may be made at (619) 298-4008.
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Preceding provided by Petrushka Restaurant
Lawrence Family JCC dinner, lecture to mark Talmis’ return visit to San Diego Jan. 11
LA JOLLA, California — Yoav Talmi, former conductor of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, on Monday, Jan. 11, will discuss orchestras in Israel and the continuing controversy over whether they should play the music of composer Richard Wagner, who was a Nazi sympathizer.
Talmi currently is the permanent guest conductor of the Israel Chamber Orchestra, as well as Music Director of the Quebec City Symphony.
The 7:30 p.m. free lecture at the Lawrence Family JCC will be on a program that also will include musical selections by Talmi performed by four members of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra and a brief video of his life featuring music by Gil Talmi.
Prior to the lecture, a special dinner in honor of Talmi and his wife Er’ella, a well known flutist, will be held at the Lawrence Family JCC with proceeds from the $72-per-person ticket to be divided between the America-Israel Cultural Foundation and the JCC’s Samuel and Rebecca Astor Judaica Library.
Yoav Talmi was the 2007 recipient of the prestigious Frank Pelleg Prize from Israel’s Ministry of Culture. He continues to perform as guest conductor throughout the world.
Er’ella Talmi recently retired as a solo flutist and chamber music performer. During several seasons she was principal flute of the Israel Chamber Orchestra. She has led workshops, served as an adjudicator and was the Music Director of several chamber music series. Today she devotes part of her busy schedule to writing children’s books. Both Talmis were AICF scholarship recipients.
Eileen Wingard, a former violinist with the symphony and a music writer for San Diego Jewish World, is chair of the planning committee for the Talmi events. Other committee members include Jackie Gmach, JCC Program Director; Susan Hagler, Astor Judaica Library Program Assistant; David Amos, conductor of the Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra and a San Diego Jewish World columnist; Shirley Brody, Raquel Cohen, Naomi Crosby, Sigrid Fischer, Lucy Goldman, Sylvia Liwerant, Roz Pappelbaum, Ted Parker, Norene Shenhav, Charlotte Siegel and Cathy Weil.
Dinner reservations may be made by calling Susan Hagler by Jan. 3 at (858) 362-1134.
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Preceding based on material provided by the Lawrence Family JCC.
How much should Israel pay for Gilad Shalit?
By Ira Sharkansky
JERUSALEM — How much should Israel to pay for the release of Gilad Shalit? He is the soldier who was seized in June 2006 during a raid by Gazans on the Israeli side of the border. In the same incident, two Israelis soldiers died and several others suffered injuries.
Negotiations for a prisoner swap have proceeded in an on again off again fashion. Hamas has control of Shalit, and has denied all requests that the Red Cross or some other reputable organization be allowed to visit and report on his condition. There have been notes from him, an audio tape, and a video tape, all presumably coached and edited to show him alive and well treated, but anxious to return home.
Shalit has the advantage of educated and articulate parents, who have enlisted the help of public relations consultants to campaign in behalf of whatever concessions are necessary to release him. Groups of school children, media personalities, and politicians have used the slogan, “pay any price,” while others have been guarded in indicating that some prices are too high.
Palestinian prisoners are the medium of exchange. The problem is not the number mentioned in the information available to the public, most likely 1,000. Israel holds more than 11,000 Palestinians and other Arabs picked up over the years on security charges (murder, complicity in murder, weapons smuggling, incitement, activity in banned organizations), found guilty by civilian or military judges, or held in administrative detention. It would not be difficult to identify a thousand who committed their crimes years ago, or who did not commit the most serious crimes.
Israel’s problem with Hamas’ demands is that it includes a number of high profile individuals, guilty of especially sensitive crimes, who so far have served only a few years.
IDF commanders tell their troops that it is the highest priority to avoid capture, and to prevent the enemy from taking prisoners. When it does happen, it inevitably entails several years of difficult negotiations and intense emotions concerned with one or a few Israelis. Some efforts have ended without success, as a soldier known to be held captive either fled and died, or was traded among several groups until he disappeared. Other families have spent more than twenty years insisting that their sons were being held, but have found no evidence of their capture or their bodies. Lebanese groups have negotiated for men they said were prisoners, but where Israel received only bodies when the deal was completed.
Every deal has left a bitter taste among officials and citizens, which feeds back into opposition the next time. Individuals viewed as high profile killers in Israel have been lionized at home when released. Some have returned to violence, and eventually to Israeli prison.
Occasionally an Israeli speaks heroically about “no deal with terrorists,” but the sentiment does not hold up under public pressure. This time, as always, the issue is the number, and especially the “quality” of prisoners demanded by the captors.
Among the opponents of an “expensive” swap are families of people killed by those on the enemy’s list of demands, as well as ranking officers who worry about encouraging further raids to capture Israelis, the capacity of young killers to continue fighting where they left off when they were captured, and to serve as a message that violence pays. However, there are no groups that are total in their opposition to particular swaps. Some families of terror victims say that Israel should pay any price to prevent another family from suffering the loss of a loved one. Military officers say that it is a national obligation to do everything possible to assure the safety of draftees, and their return home after an engagement.
The issue is also difficult for those holding the Israelis. With thousands of Palestinians in Israeli prison, there are many thousands who want their sons, husbands, and brothers released. Who will be put on the list of demands is a matter of great sensitivity, capable of provoking violence by disappointed families.
In order to avoid the stain of talking directly with terrorists, Israel employs intermediaries. The German and Egyptian government have provided negotiators, and other governments–seemingly wanting to gain some credit for their good will–have claimed to be probing possibilities with those holding the captives.
The Shalit family, like those caught up in similar situations, has traveled the world seeking public support, and the favors of highly placed individuals. TV news showed a clip of Shalit’s father talking with Jimmy Carter that did not improve the former president’s reputation in Israel. He expressed strong emotion about the suffering he saw in Gaza, and was curtly dismissive of Shalit’s efforts to engage him about his son.
There have been several news stories, typically from Arab media that “the deal is almost done.” It would be finalized with one more meeting of the Hamas leadership, and would be finished after a Muslim holiday that was only a few days away. One report was that French physicians had examined Shalit. These would have been the first outsiders to visit him, and the examination was said to be part of his imminent release. We have heard that Israeli prison authorities have concentrated the individuals to be freed in one prison in preparation of a release. One rumor was that Shalit had already been transferred to Egyptian officials, long mooted as the first stage in a phased exchange.
Typically these stories are followed by clarifications from Hamas that the deal is not quite finished, and that a swap can occur only when Israel improves its offer.
Just what Israel is offering is secret. This allows the deal to go forward without intense pressure and violence on the Palestinian side about whose family member will be on the list. Secrecy also minimizes pressure on Israeli negotiators deliberating about the release of individuals with especially bad reputations. And it provides some protection to negotiators who are carrying out the instructions of political superiors to resist the release of particular individuals, or individuals whose crimes fall in the category of “no deal.”
Israeli officials have promised the public a period of 48 hours to know the final details, time enough to petition the Supreme Court to halt the release of certain individuals. Once a deal is in hand that passes muster with the prime minister and colleagues assigned to oversee negotiations, other members of the government will do what is necessary to put the issue behind them. The Court is likely to rule that it is a matter for the political leadership to decide, and the president will sign off on whatever pardons or commutations are necessary to put the individuals on the prison bus heading for the exchange point.
Never negotiate with terrorists? Only in your dreams. It is not simple. There has been no caving in to outrageous demands, but it does happen.
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Sharkansky is professor emeritus of political science at Hebrew University. This column ran out of sequence, and should have appeared before one titled “All or Nothing Solutions are unrealistic in the Middle East.”
Congregation Beth Am to dedicate stained glass windows depicting Days of Creation
SAN DIEGO (Press Release)- During Shabbat Morning Services at 9 a.m., December 19, Congregation Beth Am will dedicate its beautiful stained-glass windows, recently installed in the sanctuary. The six windows, donated by Beth Am members, past and present, represent the six days of creation. The Arc doors represent the 7th. The windows and Arc were designed by renowned artist, James Hubbell.
The community is welcome to join us for this joyous occasion. Congregation Beth Am is located at 5050 Del Mar Heights Road in Carmel Valley. To learn about this and other Beth Am programs, please contact Debra Clemens at Congregation Beth Am at 858-481-8454 or debra@betham.com
Immigrants from North America helping to enrich Israel
JERUSALEM (Press Release)–The Jewish Agency for Israel has found a few interesting facts about those who have made aliyah to Israel recently:
- According to a study conducted by Deloitte Brightman Almagor Zohar (The Israeli branch of the Deloitte Touche network), the new Olim (immigrants) that came to Israel from North America between 2002 and 2008 represented a net economic gain of some $250 Million, when factoring in the combined value of tax revenues, education, tourism and personal assets.
- The study found that the immigrants were a good investment for the government. The Olim have generated a net income of over $115 Million to the Israeli Government, a figure which was derived by subtracting the $132 million in government spending on the new citizens (elementary and high-school education, health care, the absorption basket and Hebrew lessons, as well as tuition and rent subsidies) from the $247 million in tax revenues gleaned from their economic activities
- According to data from the financial aid applications of olim, North American olim have brought an average of more than $180K in “immediately available financial assets” per household.
- Besides money, the olim bring another kind of economic assets:
- 46% were under the age of 18
- 32% were under the age of 25
- 63% were under the age of 35
- 94% were under the age of 65
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- 75% of olim had at least a bachelor’s degree
- 20% of olim had a Master degree
- 5% had a doctorate
- Tourism: The Central Bureau of Statistics showed that 80% of the olim had received an annual average of two visitors from abroad for an average of two weeks each year
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Preceding provided by the Jewish Agency for Israel
Torah cannot be ignored in analysis of Israeli motivations
By Rabbi Philip Graubart
LA JOLLA, California–Why do Jews live in settlements on the other side of Israel’s supposed green line? Recently, after yet another series of tension-filled discussions with the United States, Israel announced yet another settlement freeze. This pattern of American-Israeli discussions, disagreements, threats, and then freezes and occasional subterfuge regarding the settlements goes back at least to the time of President Jimmy Carter and Prime Minister Menachem Begin. Yet, at least in the United States, I’ve rarely encountered thoughtful analyses as to why we built those controversial settlements in the first place. We can easily imagine a different scenario, where, after 1967, Israel holds on to the territories – possibly until the Arabs sue for peace – without moving large civilian populations into areas that are clearly in dispute.
And, when we read explanations, they rarely ring true. Danny Gordis, in his interesting new book “Saving Israel” (I’ll be reviewing the book in this space next month), writes that, because Jews in Israel have had to fight so hard for small pieces of land, there’s a peculiar restlessness in the Israeli character regarding territory. I’ve also read security arguments from Israeli generals – that Israel needs civilian populations both to motivate its soldiers serving in the territories, and also to provide basic infrastructure (food, fuel) for the troops. Some settlers – particularly in Gush Etzion – simply returned to the homes and fields of their parents, who’d been driven out or massacred by the Jordanian army in 1948. And, of course, we’re aware of the many material motivations drawing at least some of the settlers – the government-subsidized housing, the wide open spaces, the larger homes, especially in the “suburb” settlements, like Ma’aleh Adumin.
But none of these reasons fully explains such a large scale migration, now involving over half a million souls. There are still enough open spaces in the North and the Negev to satisfy any innate, Israeli “restlessness.” Government subsidies may partially explain Ma’aleh Adumin (of course, we then have to ask: why the government subsidies?), but what about Hebron? Or Kiryat Arba? Or Beit El? Or any of the tenacious hilltop settlements cutting deep into Samaria? Why would people – often parents of babies – move their families to the heartland of anti-Jewish hostility, and live behind barbed-wire fences, with armed guards accompanying their children to school every day? There really is only one answer that makes sense: religion. Jews have returned – are still returning – to biblical lands, because they feel deep in their bones that these are the territories God promised Abraham, in the book of Genesis.
And, of course, this isn’t a secret. Settlers in places such as Beit El readily admit their motivations. Not long ago, I was visiting Efrat, a settlement in the Gush Etzion bloc. On the way back, I shared a bullet-proof taxi with a young American couple who were moving to Bat Ayin, a new settlement just up the road. When I asked them why Bat Ayin (as opposed, say, to Haifa or Tel Aviv or Jerusalem), they answered that Judea was the biblical heartland, where Abraham roamed with Sarah. The Torah calls us here, they told me.
A few years ago Morton Klein, the right-leaning president of the ZOA was speaking at my synagogue. At the time, he was touring the country, arguing against then Prime Minister Sharon’s plan to withdraw from Gaza. In his public talk, he spoke mostly of the security risks, of the folly of trusting the Palestinian leadership in Gaza. But in a private conversation, I asked him, what if there were no security risks? What if we could trust the Palestinians? Would he support the withdrawal? Without hesitating, he told me no. The Torah promised us this land, he insisted. Without the Torah, our claim to the land means nothing.
I suspect that many, perhaps most Jews base a large part of their affection for Israel on God and the Torah. I can use myself as an example. Over the years, I’ve been a fanatical reader of Zionist literature, devouring tomes by Herzl, Gordon, Ahad Ha’am, Buber, Hertzberg, Rav Kook and others. But after imbibing multiple generations of Zionist theory, I can state plainly that my personal Zionism begins and ends with God’s promise to Abraham in the Torah. Now, “begins and ends” means there’s something in between, so, of course I also resonate with Jewish peoplehood and the need for a secure Jewish home. But my passion for Zion doesn’t flow from security needs, or secular nationalism, or the flowering of a Hebrew culture. It comes from the Torah. And I don’t think I’m alone. After all, the great majority of olim from North America are religious Jews.
I wonder why American Zionists rarely speak about the religious sources of their love for Israel? Partly, we’re embarrassed by explicit appeals to the supernatural. And we recognize that God’s promise to Abraham is not exactly a good propaganda point in our struggle for public opinion (which, I imagine, is why Danny Gordis - a rabbi! – rarely writes about his religious motivations). We also don’t want to be lumped with Islamic extremists, who also act out of religious passion.
But avoiding religion when discussing Israel gives us a distorted picture of what’s happening there. After all, if Jews moved to Hebron out of commitment to the Torah, they will be extremely reluctant to leave just because of a peace treaty. And other Jews, even those not living beyond the green line – even those not living in Israel – will support the settlers, for the same reason: religious commitment. Religion is a central element in the conflict, as alive on our side, as it is on the Palestinians’. When we ignore it – when we don’t at least discuss it – we misunderstand perhaps the greatest reason why Israel exists.
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Rabbi Graubart is spiritual leader of Congregation Beth El in La Jolla, California
Adventures in San Diego Jewish History~January 22, 1954, Part III
Compiled by Gail Umeham
Temple Beth Israel
Southwestern Jewish Press January 22, 1954 Page 5
Sabbath Services—This Friday evening Rabbi Morton J. Cohn will preach on the subject “The Lamp Beside the Golden Door.” The year 1954 marks the 300th anniversary of the American Jewish community. The Tercentenary will be observed widely all this year by Jewish religious and secular organizations throughout the country.
Rabbi Cohn’s sermon this Friday evening at 8:00 p.m. will discuss the significance of the rise and development of Jewish life in America. The public is invited to attend.
Rev. Samsom to Speak at Temple—On Friday evening, Jan. 29th the pulpit will be occupied by the Rev. Peter H. Samsom of the First Unitarian Church. He will speak on “Escapes—Good and Bad.”
As one of the outstanding and brilliant thinkers of the community, Mr. Samsom will attract a large congregation. All members of the Jewish community are invited to attend.
Mr. and Mrs. Ltd. Elects Officers—Recently the young married couples group of Temple Beth Israel, Mr. and Mrs., Ltd., elected the following officers for 1954: Richard and Roberta Silberman, pres.; Hugh and Gerry Wolff, vice-pres., Irwin and Carolyn Sklar, Sec.; Marvin and Joan Jacobs, Treas.
In his address of acceptance Mr. Silberman outlined a lively program of activities and projects on behalf of the Temple. The Emphasis of the group will continue to ve cultural and religious.
The next meeting of Mr. And Mrs. Ltd. will be held on Sunday, Jan. 31, 8:00 p.m. at the home of Al and Jean Lapides.
Rabbi Cohen and Youth Attend Conclave–Mid-winter Conclave of the Southern California Federation of Temple Youth will be held at Camp Hess Kramer, Jan. 29-31. Rabbi Morton J. Cohn and members of the Temple Youth League will attend and conduct the Friday evening Sabbath service. Nearly 100 young men and women from Reform congregations throughout Southern California will participate in the weekend to be devoted to religious, cultural, and social activities.
Rabbi Cohn will lead several seminars and discussion groups.
Yo-Ma-Co News
Southwestern Jewish Press January 22, 1954 Page 5
Yo-Ma-Co members are in the throes of rehearsals for the gala program to be offered at the semi-annual Dinner-Dance Installation on Feb. 7 in El Cortez Don Room. Mike Alessio and his orchestra will play for the dancing. For further information and reservations, call R-3363 (after Jan. 24, AT-4-3363).
The Yo-Ma-Co Club, which holds its meetings on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, will meet next on Jan. 27 at the Landis St. Recreation Center, Highland at Landis. Plans to assist the Jewish Community Center will be discussed.
Deceased (Emanuel E. Grossman, Edward L. Goldberg, Max Sterne)
Southwestern Jewish Press January 22, 1954 Page 5
Emanuel E. Grossman, 59 on Jan. 11. Mr. Grossman came to San Diego 15 months ago from Orlando, Florida. Services were conducted on Jan 13 by Rabbi Morton J. Cohn at Bonham Brothers Mortuary with entombment in Cypress View Mausoleum.
Survivors include his wife, Adelle; and two daughters, Mrs. I.B. Shaw of Chula Vista, and Mrs. Sue Riklin of San Antonio, Texas.
Edward L. Goldberg, 56, on Jan. 15 (services) by Rabbi Monroe Levens at Lewis Colonial Mortuary. Interment was in the Home of Peace Cemetery.
Mr. Goldberg was a member of Tifereth Israel Synagogue and B’nai B’rith.
Survivors include his wife, Jean; a daughter, Mrs. Blossom Rosenbloom, and two sons, Joel and Frank.
Dr. Max Sterne, 73, on Jan. 12. Dr. Sterne was born in Germany and had made his home in San Diego for the past 25 years. Services were conducted by Rabbi Morton J. Cohn at the Beardsley Funeral Home on Jan. 15. Cremation followed.
Survivors include his wife, Eugenie; a son, David, of Portland; and a daughter, Mrs. Martha MacKnight, of Brinkley, Ark.
Double Talk
Southwestern Jewish Press January 22, 1954 Page 6
By Janet and Susan Solof
The semester turns from first to second in the school year,
For a happy semester with good times and fun, let’s give a cheer.
These kids are really going to town by starting their semester with a school office. Jerry Schultz took office as President of San Diego High School, Shirley Samuel, is A.S.B. Historian, Henrietta Faguet is Sophomore Treasurer and Janet Solof was elected Girls League Sophomore Representative—all at San Diego High. Sherry Newman was elected Commissioner of Culture at Hoover High. Best of luck in your new offices.
“Get well real soon” goes to Moe Barancik who is recovering from an illness and is still at Mercy Hospital.
Paul Frederick Levine had quite an experience when he boarded he plane and flew from Chicago to San Diego by himself. This 7-year-old had a wonderful vacation and quite a time. “Nothing to it” said Paul.
Having a terrific time playing Charades, hide the thimble, and then eating pizza were Joan Breitbard, Natalie Veitzer, Chuck Fagelson, Joan Borenstein, Gary and Stanley Breitbard, Elva and Ed Breitbard and host and hostess Sadie and Will Breitbard. “More fun” everyone said.
Joan Borenstein was the hostess for a “real cool” party. Those cooling off were Bob Beck, Harry Slayen, Larry Cantor, Don Kobernick, Lenny Weiss and Ernie Addleson. Also, Andy Leeds, Donna Godes, Lois Liff, Gail Kahn and Faggie Krasner. The evening was filled with dancing, eating and many games.
Bye now—CY-5-0679.
Jewish Center News
Southwestern Jewish Press January 22, 1954 Page 6
Thursday Evening Schedule
The Thursday evening committee consisting of Bob Beck, Larry Cantor, Chuck Fagelson, Gail Kahn, Lee Leichtag, Lois Liff, Steve Schulman, and Mike Witte, have planned the following schedule of events for the teen-agers on Thursday Eve:
Jan. 28—Ping-Pong tournament (handicaps).
Feb. 4—Dance exhibition by Mr. and Mrs. Farrier of the University School of Ballroom Dancing.
Feb. 11—Talk on Jazz.
Feb. 18—Sam Hinton, folk songs.
If other special events are desired, contact one of the committee members.
Discussion Group Meeting—The last of the discussion group series “Psychology of Prejudice” will be held Wednesday evening, January 27th at 8 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center, 3227 El Cajon. The subject will be “Conquering Prejudice” with Mr. Donald Walker, Ass’t Professor of Sociology at State College as the discussion leader.
Program Planning—Plans for the 1954-55 program year are now being developed by the many center program committees. Any center member desirous of some special activity and willing to participate in the planning committee work, can call the Center office at AT-1-7744, to indicate their interest. The following committees are now being organized; Cooperative Nursery; Junior Activity; Teen-age Committee; Young Adult Committee; Golden Age Committee; Hospitality Committee; Day Camp Committee; Athletic Committee; Dramatics, Lectures and Concert Committee; Discussion Group; Special Events; Extension Activities Library; and Newcomers.
Indemnification Law Analyzed by Attorney
Southwestern Jewish Press January 22, 1954 Page 6
The Émigré Committee of the United Jewish Fund and the Jewish Social Service Agency calls to the attention of the New Americans of San Diego that a new indemnification law has been promulgated by the West German government, and became effective as of the first day of October, 1953.
An analysis of the law given by Edmund Herman, San Diego attorney, is as follows:
1. It covers American, British, French Zones and West Berlin.
2. Filing period for claimants residing outside the aforementioned German area expires on October 1, 1955; the date on which application is received by the German government is the date of filing.
3. All persons of German nationality and also those not nationals but of German origin and background, could qualify as claimants under that new indemnification law. Claimants could be natural persons or juridical persons.
4. Claims are to be based on some form of persecution between January 30, 1933 to May 8, 1945; the persecution had to be directly or indirectly attributable to the then German government.
5. Such persecution had to be based on the following grounds: (a) political belief against the then German government (National Socialism), (b) on the grounds of race, (c) on the grounds of religion, (d) on the grounds of ideology.
6. The aforementioned persecution must have resulted in injury to: (a) life or limb, (b) health, (c) property itself and to right to property (d) to freedom (jail, D.P. camps, etc.) (e) professional and economic stats and prospects.
7. Any rightful claims are subject to laws of inheritance and may descend to some close relatives.
8. Payments from the German Government must be concluded by the end of 1962. In some instances, people who are in immediate need because if circumstances (old age, in poverty) may obtain priority and be paid as soon as possible.
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“Adventures in Jewish History” is sponsored by Inland Industries Group LP in memory of long-time San Diego Jewish community leader Marie (Mrs. Gabriel) Berg. Our indexed “Adventures in San Diego Jewish History” series will be a daily feature until we run out of history.
Ah, if we only had a musical time machine!
By David Amos
SAN DIEGO–The ones of us who are passionate about classical music are a pretty odd group, whether we realize it or not. The music we hear has to be played “just so”, to fit our very narrow parameters of what we consider good taste and proper interpretation, to comply with the vision of the composer. There is nothing wrong with that. After all, we have in our hands a very refined art form.
But, let’s imagine for a few minutes if our concepts and expectations are not what we think they should be. Let us travel on a time machine to concert halls of the past, to hear music we know so well, as these works were played for the first time, supposedly in the presence and in the hands of the composer. We are there just to observe, attend, and not intervene in any way.
In spite of all that has been written, we know so little about performance practices of the past. The subtleties, standards, the protocol. Were audiences as serious and quiet as we are today? (Leave aside the recent debates about noisy concert goers).
When we return from our imaginary trip, knowledgeable enthusiasts and musicologists would have many questions to ask us: How did the audience behave? How were they dressed? Was the music given full attention, or used for background entertainment or was conversation permissible? Were the performances of, say, a Haydn symphony as precise as we expect today?
More specifically, others may ask: What were the lengths of the notes? Was the intonation (if the music was played in tune or not) as accurate as it usually is today? What were the tempos? Slower or faster than that we are used to hearing?
In Baroque times, approximately from 1680 to 1750, music was highly embellished. In other words, the written notes were only the basic indication, and the tradition of the time required the musicians and singers to add, or “ornament” the melodies with important, additional notes. We debate today as to what extent the ornamentations digressed from the written notation we inherited.
Were the dynamics (the softs and the louds) improvised during the performance, or was everything played in the same volume? Was the music played in a vibrant, dynamic way, or did it sound like a dreadful imitation of a sewing machine? There has been a lot of research on this, but nothing could substitute the experience of hearing the “real thing”, which, unfortunately, technology and physics will not allow us at this time.
How were the all-important rehearsals different from today?
All we can do today is recreate what we think was the way it was done. We do our best by relying on tradition, what sounds tasteful and good to us, through musicological research, writings of the time, manuscripts, and other investigative tools. And our own creative, artistic imagination.
There is an often-told story about conductor Arturo Toscanini. He was approached by a scholar-musician who told Toscanini that he had the “correct” interpretation of a particular Beethoven symphony, because, according to him, Beethoven passed the information to his pupil Carl Czerny, who in turn passed it along to the next two generations, who eventually passed it to this man.
But, Maestro Toscanini, never at a loss for words, answered back that he had a far more direct line to Beethoven for the correct interpretation of the music. He simply picked up the orchestral score of that symphony and pointed to it.
Think of the cantillation which we find in the reading of the Torah during services. Are we properly chanting all the tropes which are found on top of the letters? My guess is that we are. It has been painstakingly transferred from generation to generation.
This is why proper investigative tools can give us a clearer picture to better understand how people used to do different things, and if we are following the composer’s intentions.
But, might it better for us to make up our own reality and perform music in a way which pleases us and our audiences, as opposed to trying to duplicate the original sound? In some not so subtle ways, we are doing this already.
Nevertheless, here we have the continuing argument of the performance of music with the original, ancient instruments versus the modern ones. Personally, I prefer to hear a Haydn piano sonata on a modern Steinway piano than on an early, crude pianoforte. Granted there are certain shadings that can only be heard and appreciated in the period instruments, but for good or for bad, we are creatures of habit, and earlier in our lives we form certain artistic prejudices, preferences, likes and dislikes.
Was Mozart really a brat, as he was portrayed in the film Amadeus? Were Beethoven Bach, Mozart, Berlioz, Mendelssohn, Brahms or so many others wonderful conversationalists as people and historians portray them, or crashing bores and/or unbearable boors? We know, for instance, a lot about Wagner!
Some of them are documented as having a witty sense of humor. For some reason, these trivial matters ignite my imagination.
What would some of us have given to be in Paris in 1913, at the Theatre de Champs Elises, during the tumultuous premiere of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring? There was an actual riot and fistfights among members of the audience. The cautious and disgusted composer had to flee from a back door.
It is also intriguing for us to transport ourselves the other way, to see and hear how music which we know today will be played by future generations and even in centuries from now.
But, I suppose what really matters is that we have these musical treasures today, readily at our disposal, and they enrich our lives time after time.
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Amos is conductor of the Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra and has been a guest conductor of orchestras all over the world.
