Most piyutim (sacred Jewish song poems) are chanted "a cappela." This one is accompanied by Tunisian oud music. The oud (ud) is similar to a lute. You'll hear traces of tambourines, too. And some kind of percussion; perhaps boot heels, perhaps knocking on wood...
These twelve selected Piyutim are the gems of Hebrew poetry. All are chanted and sung. Some are accompanied by tambourine, oud, and percussive sounds. Most are sung "a cappela," without instrumentation.
Studio Almaya is a studio for music studies founded by Yair Dalal, who dedicates himself to
continue the Jewish-Arabic musical heritage, and pass it to the future generations. His
Goals are to connect and advance young musicians towards the ethnic musical branch, encouraging ethnic
music creativity, and establishing an archive for ethnic music. Almaya became a meeting
Point for people from all ages and origins, which find the studio the only place in Israel
Where they can enrich themselves musically and intellectually in this unique tradition of Jewish-Arab music.
Studio almaya is located in the old Jaffa Port , Almaya means The Universe in Aramaic and On the Water in Arabic.
The classes and topics of the lessons are:
Middle eastern music
Rhythm
Scales
Tonality
Instrumentation:
Oud
Violin
Ney
Percussion
Vocal
Theory and practice
The Maqam phenomena and its philosophy
The history of Judeo- Arab music :
Composition
Songs
Composers and Singers as well as secular and religious songs
His picks range from Amr Diab (Arabic Folk-Pop) to Timbalada (Afro-Bahian Percussion Ensemble) to Willie Nelson (Hippie Country)... Great tool for discovery!
Yasmin Levy (b. 1975) is a singer of Sephardic music born in Jerusalem. She has brought a new interpretation to the international Ladino song scene by returning to original instruments like the Persian oud, violin, cello, percussion, and piano.
Multicultural, polyphonic, highly creative and entertaining group that takes rhythms beyond their natural frontiers and creates a brand of music too innovative and varied to be labeled.