Merendjenas – new ladino album
In the midst of the heartbreak and turmoil which we are experiencing in Israel, the 14 track ladino album: Merendjenas – eggplants, has been released.
The namesake is from a song which describes 7 ways to cook eggplants, from the Balkan diaspora.
Over a decade ago I was chosen by ethno-musicologist Dr. Susana Weich-Shahak, to join her as a singer in her phenomenal undertaking of recordings and documentation of Sephardic song.
It is to her that I owe my gratitude for this project as well as to the voices of the many informants that have shared their memories.
I thank the National Authority of Ladino Culture, La Autoridad Nasionala del Ladino, for their recognition and support.
At a time when so many have been evacuated from their homes, when farms and groves have been abandoned – the need for meals rises daily.
I have decided to contribute 75% of the proceeds of the album to “Leket Yisrael”, a non-profit organization which helps farmers, and distributing meals to civilians and soldiers – the connection to Merendjenas – eggplants, seems obvious.
stream: Merendjenas
Purchase
About “Decile a Mi Amor”
These recordings sung in the ladino dialect of “Haketia”are a tribute to the rich musical tradition of the Sephardim from Tetuán, the town that was the spiritual center of Sephardic Judaism in northern Morocco, as preserved in the oral tradition. We named the CD after the first words of the first song “- Decile a Mi Amor” – tell my love, this seemed appropriate in expressing the depth of our feelings for this incredibly beautiful repertoire and its singers. The collection is comprised of songs of ritual and courting (cantigas) holiday songs (coplas) story songs (romancero) as well a few new songs from the 20th century. Included is a booklet with translations and explanations.
Orit Perlman: Singer
Yarden Erez: ud, jumbush, violin, accordion, vocals, arrangements
Zeev Yaniv: percussion, vocals
Susana Weich-Shahak: artistic guidance, castaniet, vocals
This project was made possible by the generous support of Salonika and Greece Jewry Heritage Center
About “M’Ayin Yavo”
Mostly original prayers, new melodies to old texts, and at times, new texts rewriting the old ones, blessings for growth and life, as well as music for those here remembering those gone.
The two word combination, M’Ayin Yavo, holds a special magic.
In Hebrew, M’Ayin poses a question, from where? As well as an answer: from nowhere, from zero, from a place of nothing from which all growth begins. This is the highest most spiritual depiction of the creator, as the undefinable source of energy from which all becomes defined, the Ayin. Yavo, will come. M’Ayin Yavo – from where, from nothing, he will come.
Listen to tracks of “Me’Ayin Yavo!”:
cdbaby
Oy Songs
Band Camp
Through site
About “Ot Azoi!”
When I first met Itay Alter, and fell in love with his talents as an accompanying pianist and creative spirit, I wanted to explore what music we could create together.
I soon discovered that Yiddish is something we both love.
“Ot Azoi!” has become our personal journey through Yiddish folk song.
We have taken our Yiddish “Ot Azoi!” performances around Israel, and onto national T.V. and radio.
This is how the disk “Ot Azo!” was born.
Itay says: “Yiddish is love”. Yes it is.
Listen or purchase “Ot Azoi!”
cdbaby
Oy Songs
Through site
About “Tfilotai”
“Tfilotai” was born from workshops taught to early childhood educators through
the Sadna in HUC Jerusalem. I realized that in order for the teachers to retain the wealth
of materials, we needed a disk not only for reference, but also for spirit.
These prayers and congregational melodies were chosen from an array of Jewish musical traditions, old and new, including a few original renditions.
The twenty seven tracks arranged according to function: weekday, Shabbat,and Rosh Chodesh.
Orit Perlman – voice, guitar; Boaz Sternberg – lead guitar, vocals; Yair Smoilov – percussion;
Yuval Kanfi – keyboard; Julia Garfinkel -viola
From “Tfilotai”:
VeTen Tal won entrance to
Shalshelet 2008 Festival and Songbook
Elohai Neshama- was included in Transcontinental Music Publications, Shabbat Anthology IV
Ma Tovu- was included in Transcontinental Music Publications, Shabbat Anthology V
Sim Shalom- Transcontinental Music Publications, Shabbat Anthology VI –
Sim Shalom (hassidic version) – is included in URJ and Sound Write Tot Shabbat Handbook
Listen or purchase “Tfilotai”
cdbaby
Oy Songs
Through site
About “Ventanas Altas de Saloniki”
A collection of the ladino songs from the Jewish population of Saloniki in a double cd of western and eastern traditions, under the musical direction of Dr. Susana Weich-Shahak, co-produced by Yuval Shaked, project of Haifa University. Singers Orit Perlman and Kobi Zarco, with accompanying musicians Ariel Qassis, kanun; Wassim Hashibon, ud; Wissam Ar’an, percussion; Assaf Alush, bendir; Asaf Talmudi, accordion; Idan Toledano, guitar, bazouki; Sharbel Mar’un, nay; Shir-Ran Yinon, viola; Tal Feder, double bass. This collection is currently not available. Several songs can be heard on youtube.
About “Zimrat Ya”
A collection of traditional and original Jewish music with Haviva Ziv on the santur and tablas, and me on the guitar, harmonium and voice.
Sample song Beh Ana Rachitz
Purchase through site
CDs – Other Projects
About Shalshelet Festival Cds
Eight original compositions have been showcased in Shalshelet‘s New Jewish Music Festival cds and songbooks. This beautiful projects connects and bridges new Jewish music from all denominations. Samples from these cds:
Ozi Vezimrat Ya from the 3rd festival
Lamdeini Elohai from the 4th festival
Yedid Nefesh (performed by Yarden Erez) from the 5th festival
Haifa Awakens from a Dream
Project of original songs about Haifa, from Haifa department of music, Haifa University
Shabbat Yoredet Al Ha’ir Haifa – Yehonadav Perlman,words, Orit Perlman: melody, voice and piano
https://soundcloud.com/orit-pe
Nigun Atik
Project initiated by the late Udi Kazmirski
Shnei Shoshanim, Orit Perlman – voice; Anat Cohavi – saxaphones; Izak Kaizler – guitar; Udi Kazmirski – bass; Uri Shalev – drums
listen: Shnei Shoshanim
