Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 9, 1990 TAG: 9003123164
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Donna Alvis
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Liberated Wailing Wall is a group of three young women and two men who call themselves musical missionaries, singing their own brand of "Jewish gospel music."
The group has recorded seven albums, each with the distinctive sound that characterizes this music.
"It's hard to describe the songs," said Stuart Dauermann, who has written much of the group's recorded music.
". . . They're more than just melody plus lyrics. Some songs reflect the poignant longing that has been a part of our synagogue worship throughout the ages," Dauermann said. "Others are bursting with the same joyful exuberance you expect to find at a Jewish wedding."
The five members of The Liberated Wailing Wall use an interesting variety of instruments to achieve their sound - piano, guitar, violin, mandolin and synthesizer. The result is an intriguing combination of traditional and experimental instrumentation punctuated with a Jewish accent.
Members of the group also offer personal testimonies as part of the program. Their intention, they say, is to untangle some of the delusions about Christianity and Judaism.
Murray Tilles, leader of the group, said that many Jewish people have misconceptions of what it means to be a Christian and many Christians have misunderstandings about what it means to be a Jew.
"Whether you're Jewish or Gentile," he said, "we hope that our music is going to help you understand. We want people to understand how Jewishness and the gospel fit together." The Liberated Wailing Wall will perform in concert on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Blacksburg Christian Fellowship, 2600 N. Main St.
Admission is free, but donations will be accepted.
\ HEY, GRANDPA? WHAT'S FOR SUPPER? How about savory homemade stew, freshly baked corn bread and your choice of lusciously sweet desserts?
Yuuuum-yum.
That's what they'll be serving up on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. at the Founders' Day celebration at the Wilderness Road Regional Museum in Newbern.
The cost will whet your appetite, too - just $3 for the meal, and admission to the museum is free.
On the main floor of the historic showplace, you'll find an exhibit of Wythe County memorabilia that's sure to occupy an attentive hour (or two) of your time. The exhibit is on display in commemoration of Wythe County's bicentennial year.
Author Mary B. Kegley-Bucklen, locally known lawyer, professor and genealogist, will be available to autograph her latest book, "Wythe County: A Bicentennial History," and several of her other publications about the history of the New River Valley will be on sale at the Founders' Day event.
The Wilderness Road Regional Museum is off exit 32 from Interstate 81 in Pulaski County. Follow the brown signs.
\ MUSIC TO YOUR EARS? Do you enjoy dining-room music? Does a tender tapping tune on the xylophone bring tears to your eyes or make you want to - er, throw up?
Either way, you'll probably eat up the concert that Radford University's Department of Music is planning for Wednesday.
"5 & Dine" is what the musicians are calling this light-hearted look at the contemporary works of Samuel Barber, Benjamin Britten, George Crumb and Virgil Thompson.
The program, which begins at 8 p.m. in Preston Auditorium, promises a gourmet selection for picky listeners.
Performers include Radford University's Percussion Ensemble and music professors David Phillips and Caryl Conger on piano, Joey Akins on saxophone and David Shumway on cello.
Admission to Wednesday's "5 & Dine" is $3 for the public and free for Radford students.
For more information, call 831-5177.
by CNB