Sudha Ragunathan
The Voice of Southern India
When she was 9 years old, Sudha Ragunathan began to study the classical Carnatic singing of southern India. Her great guru was Shrimati M.L. Vasanthakumari, who she accompanied in numerous concerts from 1978?1989, particularly in the US, Canada and Middle Eastern countries. Those years in which she joined the worldwide tours of the great singer were particularly significant for Sudha, who became familiar with all of the nuances of the unique style of a true master of Indian song. Today, Sudha is known as Vasanthakumari's finest student and has become famous in her own right in the world of Carnatic vocal music. Sudha Ragunathan today also enjoys great popularity in Western countries including France and the US, as well as in southern India and Sri Lanka.
While Sudha Ragunathan is an artist with roots deeply planted in tradition, at the same time she has great curiosity. She is very open to other musical cultures, as may be noted in her work together with Iranian musician Kaivan Samirani in a project that hosted musicians from diverse cultures.
In her Hindi art, Sudha Ragunathan is the embodiment of Shakti, the goddess of creativity. She describes her feelings thus:
"Only a female vocalist can experience the energy that motivates me to sing. Sometimes my entire being melts into the expressive words, to the point of tears. At other times, I am at one with the pulse of the universe and sing with great enthusiasm! I have even fallen into a divinely influenced trance. I can be filled with joy or feel that I am merely a means of expression. The life force and the energy of music have that powerful a hold upon me."
Three Great Arab Vocalists
A Tribute to Abd al-Wahab, Um Kalthoum and Farid al-Atrash
Three great names in Arabic music do not require introduction. Their music will be sung by two honored guests, among the most exponents of Arabic music in the Middle East:
Ibrahim Azam, a native of Tarshiha, has lived in London for many years. Azam, who was a close friend of Abd al-Wahab, is considered one of the finest performers of his songs today.
Violet Salameh, a native of Haifa, is one of the greatest and most popular Arab vocalists, appearing regularly on stages in Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Yemen and the US.
The Tarshiha Orchestra for Arabic Music will accompany the soloists in original and innovative arrangements by the orchestra's conductor, Taysir Haddad, with the participation of soloists and a chorus.
Shevet Ahim
A Musical Journey from Bokhara to North Africa
Hadar Maoz and Yoel Ben Simhon
An intercultural musical journey by the duo Hadar Maoz and Yoel Ben Simhon, revealing the similarities and differences between them and the traditions from which they emerged, joining two ancient musical cultures. The journey begins in the East, in the magical towns of Bokhara and Persia, continuing to the Middle East and Israel, and reaches North Africa, Morocco and Andalusia. In the performance are original arrangements and melodies that breathe freshness into the traditional music that the musicians grew up with: Hadar Maoz is Bokharian, third generation in Israel, and Yoel Ben Simhon is Moroccan, first generation in Israel.
Hadar Maoz (25) reflects the Bokharian vocal style, music and drumming, that had been in her family for generations, bringing them to the various ensembles in which she has performed, including: the Habrera Hativit, Lev Tahor, and Sultana.
Appearing with them is percussionist Elad Kimchi, a graduate of the Center for Eastern Music in Jerusalem, who performs with numerous world music ensembles.
Ad Adei Ad
A New Work by Peretz Eliyahu
Unique composer Peretz Eliyahu composed the work Ad Adei Ad specially for the Jerusalem International Oud Festival, based upon texts from Sefer ha-Yetzira, a mystical text about the creation of the world, one of the foundations of Kabbalistic thought. Tradition attributes the book to the patriarch Abraham.
Texts selected deal with the importance of the number seven and the three elements (rather than the usual four): water, fire and wind. The entire work is in the maqam of rast, the main maqam in Eastern musical tradition thought to convey joy.
Musical Compositions for Plucked String Instruments
Maktoub Ensemble
Four musicians, Jewish and Arab, joined together to create a unique sound based upon plucked string instruments: oud, mandolin and bass, with added percussion.
The sound of the quartet is chamber/acoustic, based upon the rich experience of each of the members of the ensemble as soloists and composers of various musical genres. Among the influences upon the members of the ensemble one finds Arab, Turkish, and European classical music, Indian, Persian and Moroccan elements, and jazz. The music produced by the ensemble's members moves along an axis that connects all of these styles. We can hear works arranged specially for the sound of Maktoub, as well as original works composed by its members.
