The greatest Cantors and choirs bowed as they sang, and stood on their tiptoes as they reached for heights in their singing that mirrored their yearning to reach toward the transcendent. Cantor Schiller emphasized that the three M s do not describe the musical style of a piece, but rather how it functions. Folk music can be Majestic, she said. Meeting music can be a grand Sh ma. Shofar blowing can be Majestic, Meeting and Meditative.
Music can overlap in function.
A service succeeds when it has all three of the Ms in a healthy balance, Cantor Schiller said. Each congregation decides its own balance. Sometimes the service itself dictates the balance because of its mood, she said. For example, a Friday night Shabbat service may be Meditative because people are tired from the week and in need of contemplative music. By Saturday s service, people may be more energized and want more Meeting music.