SOLELUNA: Soleluna

Soleluna

Soleluna

© 2004 Solena (634479258770)

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Sephardic fusion - the music of the jews exiled from Spain, played with an acoustic but modern feel.

tracks

1 Estas Mesas
2 Durme Durme
3 Noches Noches
4 Lev
5 Yo Hanino
6 Angel Song
7 La Sirena
8 Los Bilbilicos
9 Morenica Sos

notes

Soleluna

There is infinite space in the heart
Containing both heaven and earth
Both sun and moon

Soleluna was born one full moon night around a bonfire, a chance meeting between Sarah Mandie and Harry Williamson, who struck a chord improvising together some Sephardic tunes. The music was easy and flowed on till dawn. . .

We started this group because of our love of the free flowing form of Sephardic music, which exists in many different parts of Europe.
Sung mainly in Ladino, the language of the Jewish exiles from Spain,
this CD contains traditional songs reworked in an original style.
Energetic improvisations and complex and driving rhythms are interspersed with delicate love songs and heart rending instrumental solos.
Drawing on the collected talents of some of Melbourne’s finest improvising musicians, Soleluna has created a magical set of richly textured studio recordings.

Singer Sarah Mandie, who has a passion for authentic and unusual Jewish music , chose most of the material and introduced Harry to the talents of the fabulous Ernie Gruner - violin , viola and mandolin, Kate Neal - recorder and percussion, and Martin Macerass - Clarinet

Enjoy!

reviews

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  • the sort of music that gets into your blood and warms your soul..
    author: Jan Forbes

    This is Sephardic music, sung in Ladino, the language of a Jewish people without a homeland, who were expelled from Spain in 1492 and fled to the Ottoman Empire. The result is a compilation with an Eastern flavour originating from countries like Bulgaria, the Balkans, Greece, Turkey and the Middle East. Some of Melbourne's finest folk musicians play songs about fate and longing, heaven and earth, the sun and the moon; it's the sort of music that gets into your blood and warms your soul.. The CD introduces a blend of cultures: Spanish, Turkish, Greek and Hebrew.The sound is tantalisingly familiar and yet I'd never quite heard any of these versions before. Deep guttural lead vocals are by Sarah Mandie who has a special interest in Jewish music. Sarah chose most of the work herself. Some of the instruments are presumably traditional for Sephardic Jews although clearly poetic licence is also at play. The musical talent brought in by Sara includes some of Melbourne's finest improvisers: guitar, piano hammer-dulcimer and "Angel Guitar" by Harry Williamson who arranged most of the music and is noted for his collaborations with Anthony Phillips from Genesis and Sting; violin,viola and mandolin played by Ernie Gruner; recorder and backing vocals by Kate Neal; clarinet and backing vocals by Martin Mackerras; and two drums of Persian origin, the zarb and tavil, played by guest percussionist, Tunji Beier. Track 2, Durme, Durme, is a lullaby where voice harmonises with recorder lamenting the fate of the people of Zion: 'My wings have been clipped and my voice has been silenced'. Track 7, La Sirena, has a medieval sounding rhythm where the drums in the background are like rumbling thunder, as Sarah sings: 'Yet into the sea I will throw myself if the sirens call me.' The last track, called Morenica Sos goes 'Your blood is so sweet it enters my soul'- the sweet resonant music of the hammer dulcimer, or cimbalom, from the Balkans, ending the CD on a high point.

  • Solar and Luna energy mingle in this work of beauty...
    author: Louisa John-Krol

    Solar and Luna energy mingle in this work of beauty: sephardic fusion by Australian band, Soleluna. Celebrating Judeo-Spanish (Ladino) songs through modern interpretations, led by the expressive, vibrant voice of Sarah Mandie, this album was produced and arranged with Harry Williamson, who also plays several instruments on it including tiple, piano, hammer dulcimer and his own invention, angel guitar. I bought this CD at its launch in Melbourne, being impressed by the versatile performances on a rich array of instruments, such as clarinet, recorder, viola, zarb and tavil, all of which appear on the recordings. Highly recommended.

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