Wow! I’ve never never never never never never never heard of this.
I’ve heard of kol isha. That in itself seems to say that listening to instrumental music and a man’s voice is permissible.
My LOS had music playing at a simcha.*
Wait.. is music different than a live band? Do you mean recorded music? (Or did they not have that back in the day anyway?)
*The music playing at my LOS that I was referring to was a live band.
I’m pretty sure that I’ve heard music played at another holiday at my LOS. I know rabbis who play in bands or have a relative in a band. My LOR sings on Shabbos.
Is it offensive to ask a rabbi or rebbetzin who I know listens to music, plays music, and/or sings be offensive?
Was this part of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai’s deal with the Romans to keep the now-Jewish people at bay from making any scenes? Or do sources say that he initially just called for a temporary period of solemn, like we do during the 3 weeks?