Q. Can you listen to tapes of chazanos of tefilos, during the three weeks, if you are interested in knowing the nusach and the nigunim, when you daven for the amud on Shabbos or Yomim Noraim?
A. Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that in principle if they are not melodies of simcha and joy, rather the normal nigunim that a chazan or a baal tefila sing by the amud, that express more sentiment, fervor and emotion than happiness and delight, they are permitted to listen to or sing even during the tefilos of the nine days, especially if one’s intention is only for learning them. The fact is that even on Tisha Beav we do sing Keli-Tzion. See question 104, 1305 and 281 in regards to classical music during Sefira and Bein Hametzorim, where we mentioned the Rov’s opinion that; it is likely that while listening to a symphony, the motif may change and parts of it may meet the criteria of the mood markings of allegro, animato, or giocoso. It is therefore advisable to refrain from listening to all music, unless needed for therapeutic purposes. Similarly, (and lehavdil too) when listening to chazonus, the nigunim may change suddenly to happy and joyful to be avoided songs.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit”a
Important Numbers
