Greetings from Limor Livnat, the Minister of Culture and Sport

This year the Jerusalem International Oud Festival celebrates the 10th anniversary of its founding.

The Festival, which began as a local Israeli event, has, over the years, turned into an international cultural-musical celebration. Stars of Israeli, Jewish and Arab ethnic music appear alongside some of the finest guest artists from around the world. These musicians from India, France and Mediterranean countries present a variety of musical heritages: religious and secular, Armenian and Byzantine, Gypsy and Babylonian, ancient and modern.

Over time, the Oud Festival has become a prestige event. This gathering draws artists and composers from all musical genres; traditional paytanim alongside composers, and rock, pop and rap ensembles and vocalists. Thus, the Mediterranean sounds of the oud become accessible and enjoyable not only to the traditional audiences that grew up with them, but also to a young and curious audience, seeking to become acquainted with authentic ethnic music in new and innovative formats.

In recent years the Festival has succeeded in reaching out to the periphery. This year as well, the Oud Festival, based in Jerusalem, has established a branch in Nazareth. The link to that city in the Galilee adds geographical depth to the Festival, shortening the distance between Israel's eternal capital and its largest Arab city that serves as a center for business, communications and culture for Israel's Arabs.

The Oud Festival is a summit meeting that draws hearts and cultures closer together. It creates a fruitful dialogue between diverse musical traditions, giving this ancient and magical instrument, which originated in ancient Persia in the third millennium BCE, the status it deserves in the third millennium CE.

I wish all of the artists taking part in the Festival and the audiences attending great pleasure from this rich and unique musical experience.

Limor Livnat
Minister of Culture and Sport

 

Greetings from Nir Barkat, Mayor of Jerusalem

Dear Residents and Visitors,

Over the past decade, the International Oud Festival has become an important event in Jerusalem?s cultural landscape. The Festival organizers many years ago identified musical trends that today captivate the heart of the consensus.

The oud is an instrument that allows interconnection: between East and West, between old and new, between religious and secular, between world music and local ethnic music, between medieval piyyutim and modern rock bands. The linkage of these contrastsis exceptionally fascinating and the results are clearly evident in the Festival performances.

Jerusalem is a city full of contrasts and contradictions, a truly multi-cultural city that encompasses a variety of beliefs and opinions. Some feel threatened by these differences, but many see their potential, regarding them as a source of inspiration. As the mayor, I aspire to linking the different parts of the city and the various populations that it comprises.

Culture is a wonderful means to create links, an encounter between cultures and familiarity with others. I believe in the power of culture to inspire renewal in this city. That is why support for cultural institutions was doubled this past year. I wish to express my great esteem for Confederation House, the organizers of the International Oud Festival, and to the many partners who make it possible. I wish you many more decades of fruitful cultural activity that brings communities in Jerusalem together.

Sincerely,

Nir Barkat
Mayor of Jerusalem

 

Greetings from Ruth Chesin, President of Jerusalem Foundation

Dear Friends,

The Jerusalem Oud Festival this year celebrates 10 years, a period of time that enabled it to gain a name for itself on the international music scene. As in years past, the festival rounds up a busy season of cultural activities in Jerusalem, from musical performances against the backdrop of the Old City walls at Mishkenot Sha'ananim, to the Jerusalem International Film Festival at the Cinematheque, to the International Chamber Music Festival, to the Manofim Art Exhibition. Jerusalem is enjoying something of a cultural renaissance and each year presents an impressive wealth of artistic and cultural activity.

The Jerusalem Foundation is at the forefront of providing vital support to cultural institutions and activities in the city, also through the Oud Festival. Culture is the breath of a living, vibrant Jerusalem, a magnet for artists.

The Oud Festival is yet another important expression of the city's uniqueness: a place where magical ties are formed between the sounds of old and new, east and west, local and international musicians. It is especially moving to see the collaboration of Jewish and Arab musicians, whose original, joint creations are an inspiration of hope. This is the secret of Jerusalem's magic.

Warm congratulations to the staff of Confederation House, successfully directing and producing the Jerusalem Oud Festival, and wishing them many more years of activity in Jerusalem.

Ruth Cheshin
President,
The Jerusalem Foundation

 

Greetings from Andrew Standley, Head of the European Commission Delegation to Israel

Dear friends,

I am very pleased to welcome you to the 2009 Jerusalem International Oud Festival. The European Union is again proud to support this wonderful festival of ethnic music

The International Oud Festival encourages artistic co-operation and the sharing of common musical heritage that is a fundamental part of the Israeli culture. This year, the festival opens with a modern tribute to great Jewish ? Spanish poet from 11th century Spain and from there takes us on musical voyages throughout the Middle East and beyond.

It is this openness to diversity that has turned the festival into one of the most fascinating and attractive events on Israel's cultural calendar.

With such an exciting programme of performances, I have no doubt that the Jerusalem International Oud Festival will again be a great success.

Andrew Standley
Head of the European Commission Delegation to Israel

 

Introduction

Welcome to the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Jerusalem International Oud Festival.

This initiative, which began as a modest tribute to Arab culture, became an ongoing endeavor?a journey along the strings of the oud, stretched between different periods and cultures. Over the years, we celebrated with tributes to great Arab and Jewish artists, reaching out from Arab traditions to Hebrew piyyutim, and presenting the finest players of the oud and the other stringed instruments that developed from it.
Each year we crossed historical and geographical boundaries in the footsteps of the great Arab musical tradition and the many traditions that grew from it.

This year we will continue to link old and new, East and West. We will continue the tradition of our tributes to the poets of the Golden Age of Spain and the great artists of the Arab world, and we will present some of the foremost musicians from Israel and around the world.
At the same time, we will, for the first time, present a unique aspect of Syrian musical tradition, alongside Greek, Turkish and other musical styles.

I would like to thank all of the organizations and people who made this celebration of the International Oud Festival?s first decade possible?heartfelt thanks to each and every one. I wish you all pleasant listening and great enjoyment.

Sincerely,

Effie Benaya
Artistic director
2009 Jerusalem International Oud Festival