{"id":8473,"date":"2010-11-19T13:12:19","date_gmt":"2010-11-19T20:12:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.midnighteast.com\/mag\/?p=8473"},"modified":"2020-09-16T16:19:55","modified_gmt":"2020-09-16T13:19:55","slug":"notes-for-a-journey-the-arab-jewish-youth-orchestra-at-the-11th-international-oud-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.midnighteast.com\/mag\/?p=8473","title":{"rendered":"Notes for a Journey: The Arab-Jewish Youth Orchestra at the 11th International Oud Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Arab-Jewish Youth Orchestra performing at 11th International Oud Festival\/Photo: Elizur Reuveni<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The performance of the Arab-Jewish Youth Orchestra on November 15, 2010, as part of the 11th International Oud Festival \u2013\u00a0 \u201cJourney Between Eastern and Western Traditions\u201d \u2013 was well, named, for it was a journey to a place for which there are no maps, where traditions and people meet and music emerges.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Dr. Meir Wiesel, Director of the Arab-Jewish Youth Orchestra\/Photo: Elizur Reuveni<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Founded in 2002, the orchestra is composed of young musicians from all parts of the country, and includes an Oud section, Qanoun and Arabic violin as well as\u00a0 classical Western instruments. Playing a repertoire that draws on both traditions to create their own musical identity, Orchestra Director Dr. Meir Weisel, in introducing the works, explained that works \u201care never performed in their original version. All works are played by the orchestra in new arrangements.\u201d Many of those arrangements were created for the orchestra by their Musical Director and conductor – composer, Oud player and violinist, Professor Taisser Elias.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Professor Taisser Elias, Musical Director and Conductor of the Arab-Jewish Youth Orchestra\/Photo: Elizur Reuveni<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For those who missed hearing \u201cAvinu Malkenu<\/em>\u201d drift through a Moashah<\/em> that was preceded by taqasim<\/em> on qanoun<\/em>, here\u2019s a short description of an amazing evening:<\/p>\n

The first piece on the program was Longa Riad<\/strong><\/em>, composed by Riad al-Sunbati and arranged by Prof. Taisser Elias. Riad al-Sunbati (1906 \u2013 1981) was an Egyptian composer who composed music for Um Kalthoum. Dr. Wiesel explained that the Longa is a dance of Ottoman origin that later migrated to Eastern Europe. The \u201cRiad\u201d in the title refers to the name of the composer. Dr. Wiesel said of this work, \u201cThe music is fast and lively, and creates a feeling of joy.\u201d The same can be said for the energy, creative freedom and talented performance of the orchestra as a whole.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Louie Khalifa on Oud\/Photo: Elizur Reuveni<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Next was Sama\u2019i Nahawand<\/strong><\/em>, composed by Masud Jamil Bey (1902 \u2013 1963), arranged by Wisam Gibran (who formerly conducted the orchestra) and Prof. Taisser Elias.\u00a0 The sama\u2019i is an Arabic musical genre it is similar to the Western rondo in form, with the first part returning in alternation with the different, succeeding parts: abacad etc. Nahawand refers to the maqam, the scale in which it is composed. This work featured the improvisations of two soloists: Louie Khalifa \u2013 Oud and Shukri Amsis \u2013 Qanoun.<\/p>\n

The interwoven layers of time and cultures were felt in the rendition of BaGalil<\/strong><\/em> (Hebrew: In the Galilee), with lyrics by Avraham Broides and music by Nahum Nardi, arranged by Prof. Taisser Elias. The song is also known by the name \u201cAlei Givah\u201d (Hebrew: on the hill) and it is assumed that the composer, Nahum Nardi based this composition on an Arab folk song.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Piras Saleh on Arabic violin\/Photo: Elizur Reuveni<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Piras Saleh on Arabic violin and Tair Badr on Oud performed solos on Zichriati<\/strong><\/em> (Arabic: memories), composed by Mohammed El Qasabgi (1882 \u2013 1966) and arranged by Prof. Taisser Elias.\u00a0 A prominent Egyptian Oud player and composer, El Qasabgi was a favorite composer for Um Kalthoum.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Tair Badr on Oud\/Photo: Elizur Reuveni<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Orchestra members Tair Badr, Piras Saleh, Shukri Amsis, and Ataf Basharat performed a medley of the songs of Mohammed Abd el-Wahaab, an important Egyptian composer and singer.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Three of the “quartet”: Shukri Amsis on Qanoun, Ataf Basharat on Drum, Piras Saleh on Arabic Violin\/Photo: Elizur Reuveni<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Then the orchestra regrouped to perform Perah HaLimon<\/strong><\/em> (Hebrew: the Lemon flower), a well-known song from the repertoire of Moroccan-Andalusian Jo Amar (1930 \u2013 2009), arranged by Avi Amzaleg Eilam (founder of the Andalusian Orchestra). Dr. Wiesel said that \u201cthe lemon flower is a symbol of hope\u201d and quoted from the song: \u201cThe lemon flower will never fade, among the lemon flowers my lost star will shine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Shukri Amsis on Qanoun\/Photo: Elizur Reuveni<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The next song, Moashah Lama Bada<\/strong><\/em> by Abd al-Rahim al-Maslub, arranged by\u00a0Prof. Taisser Elias, opened with taqasim by Shukri Amsis on the qanoun. A traditional element of Middle Eastern music, taqasim are improvisations created according to a complex structure of rules and conventions, requiring knowledge, skill and invention. Dr. Wiesel promised the audience a surprise in the midst of the piece, performed by Hila Zamir on clarinet. On hearing the familiar melody of \u201cAvinu Malkenu<\/em>\u201d I was surprised and delighted by this moment of extreme fusion, and recollected Dr. Wiesel\u2019s words of introduction to the song: \u201cThe Moashah originated in Andalusia and it is sung by Muslims, Christians and Jews. There is a deep multicultural statement in the song and it is symbolic in its expression of the longing for peace, which is this orchestra\u2019s mission.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Hebrew folk song Shibolet BaSadeh<\/strong><\/em> (Hebrew: grain in the field) composed by Matitiyahu Shalem (1904 \u2013 1975) and arranged by Visam Jubran was the closing piece with ornamentation by Amir Tiroshi on recorder. Shalem was one of those who established the Kibbutz traditions of celebrating the Jewish holidays through song and dance.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Arab-Jewish Youth Orchestra performing at 11th International Oud Festival\/Photo: Elizur Reuveni<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Midnight East encourages everyone to become better acquainted with this wonderful orchestra and their unique sound and plans to follow up with updates on future concerts. As a first step, these are the musicians and their instruments:
\nRenen Mitzner \u2013 flute
\nAmalia\u00a0Etedgee \u2013 flute
\nGalit Zadok \u2013 recorder
\nAmir Tiroshi \u2013 recorder
\nHila Lahav \u2013 recorder
\nPiras Saleh \u2013 violin
\nMor Avigdor \u2013 clarinet
\nShukri Amsis \u2013 qanoun
\nLouie Khalifa \u2013 oud
\nMichael Ouda \u2013 oud
\nDan Sela \u2013 contrabass<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Cellos of the Arab-Jewish Youth Orchestra\/Photo: Elizur Reuveni<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dara Bloom \u2013 cello
\nAnat Rodstein \u2013 cello
\nMoran Chester \u2013 cello
\nHila Zamir \u2013 clarinet<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Violins of the Arab-Jewish Youth Orchestra\/Photo: Elizur Reuveni<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Reut Louie \u2013 violin
\nTair Badr \u2013 oud
\nNadim Makhoul \u2013 violin
\nAtaf Basharat – drum<\/p>\n

AYELET DEKEL<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The performance of the Arab-Jewish Youth Orchestra on November 15, 2010, as part of the 11th International Oud Festival \u2013\u00a0 \u201cJourney Between Eastern and Western Traditions\u201d \u2013 was well, named, for it was a journey to a place for which there are no maps, where traditions and people meet and music emerges. Founded in 2002, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8473","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-music"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.midnighteast.com\/mag\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8473","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.midnighteast.com\/mag\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.midnighteast.com\/mag\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.midnighteast.com\/mag\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.midnighteast.com\/mag\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8473"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.midnighteast.com\/mag\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8473\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.midnighteast.com\/mag\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8473"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.midnighteast.com\/mag\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8473"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.midnighteast.com\/mag\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8473"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}