MUS 5450 Rosh Hashanah I
This course represents a new paradigm in the approach to High Holy Day music, one that transcends the long-standing dichotomy between traditional cantorial chant and contemporary repertoire. Rather than treating these styles as separate or opposing practices, the curriculum fosters an integrative framework in which nusach and modern musical settings inform and enhance one another. Students engage deeply with the traditional modes and motifs of Rosh Hashanah while simultaneously developing the tools to incorporate these elements into contemporary worship contexts through techniques such as arranging, segues, and stylistic adaptation. Ultimately, the course prepares students to craft cohesive and balanced musical experiences that are both rooted in tradition and responsive to the evolving needs of Reform congregations.