|
Kanta Judezmo
|
Quien no tiene su casa, es vecino de todo el mundo. (Whoever has no home is neighbor to the whole world.)
Ladino is a world language and a world music, clever and tantalizing. It has a diaspora sound, wandering, blending, inclusive, urban, cagey, funny, rhythmic, poignant, secret, nearly dead, potentially reviving, and politically and artistically compelling. From the start, we wanted to universalize aspects of the historical record using its amazing specifics, a kind of unity in diversity, because that's how universal it really is. Strings, Guitar, Percussion, Voice, Narration, Dance. Kanta Judezmo reaches into the past for inspiration from our ancestors, to create musical art for the present times and looks toward a future where we are all neighbors, at peace with each other. Kanta Judezmo is an oratorio, using songs sung in the Ladino language to tell the story of those who spoke it, with narration in English. It tells a story about the Sephardic diaspora through the lens of its central female character, with universal threads that traverse centuries, borders, language, culture and genre. |
Kanta Judezmo is an oratorio that tells the story about the Sephardic diaspora through the lens of its central female character, with universal threads that traverse centuries, borders, language, culture and genre. Kanta Judezmo uses Jewish melodic themes, with motifs and rhythms from Spain, North Africa, the Middle East, and South America. Sascha Jacobsen is an acclaimed composer and bassist, whose music has been praised by the Strad Magazine for being "Stylish and Vigorous..beautifully arranged" and the SF Bay Guardian, "his concoctions hop nimbly through a world of styles while impressing with ear-catching intricacy and handsome technique." The Neighborhood Performance Project, which brings high quality chamber music to community spaces, is honored to join Congregation Emanu-El in presenting the world premiere of Kanta Judezmo.
|
Artists |
Sascha Jacobsen
Composer, bassist |
Melinda Martinez Becker
Mezzo soprano |
Bobby Coleman
Librettist, poet |
