the projectThe Sephardic Experience quadrilogy, is a priceless
sound document in which the Renaissance Players present their own
performance versions of well and lesserknown romansas
(ballads), kantigas (religious songs) and muwashshahat
(poetical forms) which have survived for centuries entirely via oral/aural
transmission by parents, grandparents, friends and acquaintances within
the family circle, while working, or as a form of ad hoc entertainment
in Sephardic communities of the West and East. Sadly, as the end of
the 20th century draws near we are witnessing the alarming disappearance
of SpanishJewish culture due to vast, worldwide changes in social
circumstances. In fact, these songs are no longer a part of the rich,
musical fabric of the everyday life of the Sephardim.
The collection of SpanishJewish songs in this third volume, Gazelle and Flea, include satire, a panegyric addressed to a minstrel, wedding songs, laments, coplas, kantigas, and romansas. These are placed cheekbyjowl with traditional dances from the Sephardim's host countries, Bulgaria, South Yugoslavia and Macedonia. The text covers themes of love from literal and figurative references involving animals, humans and insects (e.g. gazelle and flea) to more direct faces of love—courtships which are frustrated, sadly disappointed and sea/siren connected, and weddings, specifically the traditional marriage preparations with their expectations of nuptial bliss and love's frightful sufferings in a cycle of destructionfamineexile. The songs and dances are performed with improvised decoration as the melodies to which these originally Hebrew texts were sung are lost forever in the ancient folk-memory. the artistsThe Renaissance Players is the longest standing
professional Early Music ensemble in Australia. Founded in 1967
by Winsome Evans, the ensemble is wellknown for its varied
and imaginative concert programs which are presented in costume
and enlivened by poetry, mime, dance and processions. They perform
a wide range of music dating from the 9th century through contemporary
folk and classical styles, using replicas of, and/or ethnically,
authentic instruments where possible and attempting to reproduce
performance styles appropriate to whatever music is played. The
Renaissance Players have a library of over 2,500 pieces, which
have all been collected, arranged and/or composed by Winsome Evans.
Winsome Evans, Director of the Renaissance Players, is also the producer of this series. Aside from the performance and dance schedule of the Renaissance Players, Winsome teaches music at the University of Sydney and is one of Australia's busiest harpsichordists. She has mastered an additional 25 wind, string, percussion and keyboard instruments. Members of The Renaissance Players performing on this recording include Winsome Evans, Benedict Hames, Llew Kiek, Mara Kiek, Melissa Irwin, Mina Kanaridis, Andrew Lambkin, Barbara Stackpool, and poetry reader Geoff Sirmai. biography - winsome evansbiography - the renaissance playersdiscography - the renaissance playerstracklist
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