Live Medieval Spanish Concert. Performances are "virtuoso with perfect ensemble, intonation and wonderfully artistic rhythmic sensibility". Music and poetry from the three pillars of Spain: Arab, Christian and Jew.

21 MP3 Songs in this album (70:28) !
Related styles: WORLD: World Traditions, CLASSICAL: Medieval

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Details:
Radiance of Faith CD captures the live excitement when the Lauren Pomerantz Ensemble came together in this rare performance to a capacity crowd. Explanations of the gist of many songs, and translations of the poetry to the live audience help make this evocative and passionate music more understandable for the novice listener.

During this concert, the music of Medieval Spain was beautifully and magically sung and played, transporting the audience to a rich cultural time that night. With gorgeous melodies sung in Arabic, Galician, Hebrew and Ladino, the songs are wonderfully articulated with early music instrumental accompaniment: medieval adapted dulcimer, recorders, psaltery, vielle, rebec, and lively percussion. Instrumentalists are the world renowned experts Kit Higginson, Shira Kammen and Peter Maund.

The blending of many cultures creates music that is a unique treasure, demonstrating the beauty and joy possible when people live in peace. Although the songs and poetry were created hundreds of years ago, the heart-touching messages of this concert are as relevant today as they were in the Medieval time, as multi-faiths today still clash at war and lay waste life and resources. Medieval Spain was the brightest light of Europe and is remembered to this day as the Golden Age of Spain. What a glorious crossroad of collaboration can happen when Jewish, Arab, and Christian cultures work with each other for collective greatness! The diversity of these cultures mixed and blended in the Arts and Sciences into a more magnificent whole than any on its own. The well known date of 1492 marks the end of this several hundred years of glory.

As 21st century citizens, we can revitalize the spirit of collaboration and peace through focusing today on when humanity 'got it right' as in this preservation in music and poetry. Professors from numerous colleges lent their academic expertise in the preparation of the material.

Acclaimed singer (soprano), songwriter and composer, Lauren Pomerantz is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. She received her MA in Early Music for her music work overseas in Spain and Switzerland. Spain's Ministry of Culture supported her concert tours there for several years. Spanish PBS highlighted her work in a documentary of the Sephardim where she was joined with such artists as Placido Domingo and Victoria de los Angeles.