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 opening refrain of track 1 on this fourth volume, Eggplants, declares that the following copla will describe seven recipes for stewing eggplants. The eggplant was a staple of Ottoman cuisine which was beloved by all, at every level of society from the Sultan and his slaves to the Muslims, Jews, Christians, and other inhabitants. There are many references in this volume to foodstuffs which were staples of the Ottoman Sephardic dieteggplants, olive oil, rice, chicken, aromatics, rue, apple, lemon, milk, cinnamon, coffee and sherbets. In the menu of musical items, Macedonian dances, instrumentalized and sung kantigas and coplas, fragments of romansas and kantigas, and bodas tell of Sabbath food, tragic births in the royal palace, joyous, wicked, seductive, rejected and spiritual love, and mischievous, intoxicated, boisterous pre and postnuptial hijinks. 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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