Beit HaConfederatzia

• At Beit HaConferatia last night we heard compositions written by an Ethioiean immigrant and inspired by Ethiopian Jewish music. Inspired indeed.
• We entered the small auditorium to see a piano, contra-bass, and saxophone waiting on the low stage. Were we in the right place?
• Two men and a woman went up the two steps. The first man's face said his family had spent 2500 years in Persia. He went to the piano. Yitzhak Yedid. The woman who took up the contra-bass was even paler. Ora Boazson Horev. The third onto the stage was darker skinned, Abate Berihun, an Ethiopian name. He was the inspired composer. He picked up the saxophone. He was the composer.
• Later two dark, thin men, a singer and a dancer, joined the three intrumentalist-singers. Patago Mulukan Yaakov and Aicho Beya. With their narrow faces and bodies they fit the Ethiopean stereotype. The music did not, but then I have no stereotypes for medieval Ethiopian music except that I expect the instruments to be less familar.
• Never mind. From the bass (played pizzicato in all but two of the pieces), the piano (no chords), and the saxaphone the musicians drew music that spoke to us in a strange language and compelling.
• Beit HaCenfedratsia is behind the King David Hotel garden. It also hosted some of the Oud Festival concerts. Ticket agencies can usually tell you what delights are scheduled.

Copyright 2006 Jane S. Fox