Thursday, January 25, 2007

The Lubavitcher Rebbe on Chassidic Melody

From Letters from the Rebbe, vol. 5, letter 69; Otsar Sifrei Lubavitch, 2001. The Rebbe is particularly discussing nigunim, (usually) wordless melodies sung by Chassidim:
[...] It is customary to look for depth and insights in everything, and the Chassidic concept of Negina is indeed rich in both. It is well known, and a matter of experience, that music in general is highly evocative of inner feeling, much more than other forms of human expression such as oratory, or painting, and the like. Even verbal articulation as a medium of vocal music is on a different plain.

This is why Chassidic Negina is so important in Chassidic life for it is the very objective of Chassidus to permeate the daily life of the Jew to such an extent that all actions should be imbued with inner feeling, even soulful expression. For then every action assumes a different quality and meaningfulness, and even its external aspects and scope are greatly stimulated.[...]

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