The Fourth Jerusalem Piyyut Festival on your computer screen at home
We are delighted to be able to offer you a unique opportunity to be part of many events of the Fourth Jerusalem Piyyut Festival, even if you cannot be there in person. The Piyyut Festival The festival, which consists mainly of premieres and debut performances, features a taste of various traditions, new September 19-22 Jerusalem 2011 musical settings of ancient piyyutim, and even newly written piyyutim. This year we have arranged free live webcasts of major events, so that people throughout the world can enjoy the performances and take part in the festival. The following events will be available for viewing, in real- time only, on the BEIT AVI CHAI website, http://www.bac.org.il/bac/piut/live.html We look forward to sharing these performances with you! Dani Danieli, Festival director Yair Harel, Artistic director
Opening Concert Babylonian Maqam The Piyyut and Musical Tradition of Iraqi Jews
Monday • September 19th, 20 Elul • 8:15 PM IL time
This gala event focuses on the Iraqi maqam, a style that was preserved in the Babylonian tradition of song and piyyut. The concert combines the classical style with new and varied arrangements of piyyutim from the popular tradition—for Shabbat, joyous occasions, and dancing—in Hebrew and Judeo-Arabic. The concert will include a tribute to the musician and musicologist Yitzhak Aviezer (Ishaq Abu El‘iz in Arabic) for his continuous contribution to maintaining and renewing the tradition of the piyyut and music of Babylonian and Mizrahi Jews in Israel. Artistic directors: Elad Gabbay, Rav David Menachem and Yair Dalal / Musical producer: Elad Gabbay / Guest artists: Koby Oz (vocals) and Mark Eliyahu (kamanche) With: Rav David Menachem –vocals and nai flute /Yair Dalal –oud / Elias Zbida—violin / Ne’eman Kihan— santoor / Elad Gabbay —qanoun and oud / Assaf Zamir—percussion / Yosef Haim Harel—percussion / Hagai Bilitzky— double bass / Chorus: Ariel Gabbay
ARTICLES THEATRE EVENTS | www.bac.org.il EXHIBITIONS VOD STAGE MUSIC LECTURES DISCUSSIONS Piyyutim in Ladino and Turkish A tribute to Rabbi Itzhak Algazi The Piyyut Festival
Tuesday • September 20, 21 Elul, • 8:45 PM IL time
Rabbi Itzhak Algazi (1889–1950) is considered one of the most important Jewish singers in the Ottoman Judeo-Spanish tradition. Algazi was known throughout Turkey as the “Sweet Singer of Israel.” He recorded dozens of religious songs, Turkish folksongs, and songs in Ladino, and was admired by Jews and non-Jews alike. The concert integrates his main genres and authentic musical arrangements with the unique and colorful Turkish style of the early 1900s. Research and vocal director: Hadas Pal-Yarden / Arrangements and musical direction: Yinon Mualem With: Hadas Pal-Yarden —vocals / Yinon Mualem —percussion / Hagai Bilitzky — double bass Eliyahu Dagmy—oud and baglama / Yaacov Cohen, Dr. Baruch Hasson, Moshe Farssi, and Roni Ish-Ran—vocals / Ariel Kassis—qanoun / Harel Shahal—winds Initiated and in conjunction with the Sephardic Community Council of Jerusalem and the National Authority for Ladino and the Sephardic Heritage Alliance.
The Piyyut Festival The High Holidays in Chassidic Courts The Halev Vehama‘ayan (the heart and the wellspring) project in a moving piyyut concert
Wednesday • September 21, 22 Elul • 7:15 PM IL time
Some of the greatest works of music and poetry from the Chassidic tradition were composed to be part of the High Holiday liturgy. Naor Carmi and Hilik Frank’s Halev Vehama‘ayan present the Chassidic musical tradition for the High Holidays with unique arrangements for choir and instrumental ensemble, produced especially for the Piyyut Festival. With: Naor Carmi —contrabass / Hilik Frank —clarinet and vocals / Oren Tzor —violin / Ariel Alayev—accordion / Ilan Katchka —percussion / Men’s choir
The Piyyut Festival Piyyut and Roll Piyyutim, Prayer, and Rock ’n Roll
Thursday • September 22, 23 Elul • 8:45 PM IL time In conjunction with the Yedidi Hashachachta project of Beit Hillel
Members of the Piyyut ’n Roll Ensemble host Alma Zohar, Efrat Gosh, and Ilan Damri (Hamadregot) for a musical journey in the footsteps of centuries-old piyyutim. The Piyyut ’n Roll Ensemble was conceived in the Beit Hillel beit midrash for singers as part of the Yedidi Hashachachta project. The concert was produced especially for the Piyyut Festival and includes contemporary musical interpretations of prominent elements in piyyutim and songs: individual songs, songs of one person to another, and songs of Man to his God. With: Guest artists (vocals): Alma Zohar, Efrat Gosh, and Ilan Damri Members of the Piyyut ’n Roll Ensemble: Dudy Levy —vocals and guitar / Eran Tzur—vocals and guitar / Erez Lev-Ari–vocals and guitar / Nitzan Chen Razel - violin and vocals / Aviv Stein - bouzouki and percussion / Alon Yoffe—drums / Shaul Besser—keyboard Artistic direction: Dudy Levy and Merav Livneh-Dill (director of Yedidi Hashachachta, Beit Hillel) Production: Merav Livneh-Dill