I found this video while I was searching for examples on YouTube of what we have discussed this week in class. I had nothing particular in mind this week so I thought I would just dive in and see what I could find. By doing so I came across this particular song while searching for types of Jewish Liturgical Cantillation. The reason I ended up picking this piece is because I thought it was pretty unique and interesting to watch. After finding this video I wanted to read more about the context it was made in, so I did a quick search of the project that made the video, 12 Tribes Music. I learned that 12 Tribes Music is a project that works toward exposing the rest of the world to traditional Israeli music in a more accessible way.
The video shows multiple musicians and a main vocalist who also is playing an instrument. One thing I found interesting about this video is that many of the instruments being used are instruments we see used in the Egyptian Takht Ensemble. Two of these being the oud and the ney. Yet the singing aspect of the song shares some common characteristics with the Jewish Liturgical Cantillation that we listened to in class, especially being that it is a song that, from what I found, is recited Friday nights (usually in a synagogue) to welcomes the Sabbath. I thought that it was interesting that this music combined aspects from two of our in class examples that come from different locations. The instruments being of Arabic descent and the singing being of Israeli descent. The instrumental music accompanying the singer even has the sound and feel of the Egyptian Takht Ensemble, which is not something we have yet heard in the Jewish music we explored.
If you have read any of my previous song shares, you will know I am on a hunt to find pieces of music that incorporate female musicians in all of my videos I share. One of the reasons I picked this performance in particular is that the female vocalist is not only singing, but she is also playing an instrument. I was really excited to find an example of “traditional” music from the Middle East that comprised of a women instrumentalist because I know women are often sadly oppressed in that part of the world. I felt that it was especially important for this week’s assignment that I continued this theme, in order to recognize and honor the women in the Middle East who are currently fighting for their right to independence and freedom.
The Video:
Provide Feedback