Ha Tizmoret HaAndalusit Ashdod

We akways look forward to performances of this Israel-prize winning orchestra. But this week's concert lacked the energy that is such a great part of their appeal. And where was the kanoun? Instead they had an electronic keyboard. The single oud was, in most pieces, overwhelmed by the massive strings. Not a bad concert, but not up to standard.

Copyright 2018 JaneS. Fox

East West Orchestra

The Jerusalem Andalusian Orchestra a spinoff from the Andalusian Orchestra of Ashdod, seems to have become the Jerusalem East West Orchestra. Last night's concert was sort of Misrakhi pop. We particularly enjoyed the A-wa trio (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jInF0ZLfNs ) who sang in Madison a couple of years back. A contigent from their old high school lowered the age of the crowd.

Copyright 2018 Jane S. Fox

Two Andalusian Orchestras

Last Sunday we were at a performance of the Ashdod Andalusian Orchestra; this week at a concetrt by the Jerusalem Andalusian Orchestra.

Generally these orchestras, both excellent, perform music, particularly Jewish music, from the Middle East -- mainly north Africa, Iraq, and Syria. Last week we heard a song from a Lebanese musical comedy of the 1950s, Arabic poems set to Arabic music, medeval Hebrew poems set to Arabic music, a modern Hebrew poem set to Israeli bedouin music, a Hebrew poem set to Israeli music in an Arab style, and similar pieces.

The Jerusalem orchestra tried something different: traditional French chanson with the music rearranged into the Andalusian style and rhthyms. Two vocal soloists sang, Ela Daniel much like the usual chanson style while the orchestral went excitedly Andalusian in accompanyment. David D'or was the other soloist, moving from counter-tenor to baritone. Ariel Brant soloed on the harmonica, though with eyes closed I'd have called it a saxaphone.

The conductor of the Jerusalem orchestra is wonderful to watch. He conducts with his entire body, a dancer directing the musicians.

Copyright 2017 Jane S. Fox

Maybe Two Israeli Andalusian Orchestras

A full house tonight for the concert of the Tizmoret Andalusit Ashdod. Never mind the storm -- which paused for us to walk to the otherwise cancelled-out Jerusalem Theater and was barely puffing when we came home. And what an enjoyably energetic concert it was.

Earlier in the month at a smaller concert of the Tizmoret Andalusit Yerushalayim, we heard how happy they were to be Yerushalmim now. Yet tonight the banners of Ashdod were draped behind players, some of whom we recognize. So what's the story? A split? Two orchestras now touring?

They're both excellent.

Copyright 2016 Jane Fox

January 28

I have now come across five different events I'd like to see the evening of January 28th. I think the concert we have tickets for (Mark Eliahu and Peretz Eliahu) is the one I'd like best, but they all sound good.

Tonight we're scheduled for a "classical" (not sure what that means in this context) concert by the Andalusian Orchestra. The Jerusalem Theatre had cancelled all its other events, including films, for tonight because of weather (or weather fears). I suspect this concert is to be broadcast, as I can think of no other reason they'd keep it and not the others.

Copyright 2016 Jane Fox

Andalusian Orchestra

HaTizmoret HaAndalusit Ashdod has become HaTizmoret HaAndalusit Yerushalayim, and very proud the director is to be associated with Jerusalem.

Monday's concert at the Jerusalem Theatre was a tribute to the late Selim Halali (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salim_Halali ), a French singer born in Algeria.

The Rivke Crown auditorium was a great venue for this concert, not so large as to dilute the effect of the enthsiastic audienc singing along with the help of words transmitten to cellphones. We watched the singers, instrumental soloists, and orchestra rather than phones. In any case, almost all the lyrics were Arabic, though transmitted in Hefrew letters, and many in the audience already knew the words.

The conductor got a good aerobic workout, and we had a most enjoyable efening. There's huge energy in this music.

Copyright 2016 Jane Fox

Israel and Morocco

As soon as I got the notice that the Andalusian Orchestra of Ashdod would be playing at Beit Shmuel, I ordered tickets. Wonderful concert and experience as always. The conductor asked how many people understood the lyrics. About half the hands went up -- not that he could see. And how many do not? The rest of us raised our hands. "Next time," he told us, "Those of you who don't understand should sit next to those who do and ask for explanations." At some of the other concerts, they have projected Hebrew translations on a screen.

The orchestra brought three solo singers, all of whom appear regularly in Morocco as well as Israel. Strange that. There are no direct flights.

Copyright 2015 Jane S. Fox

Cultural Differences

The Israeli Andalusian Orchestra of Ashdod continues to be once of our favorites. Last night's concert reminded us of cultural differences between this orchestra's audience and the audiences at the Etnakhta concerts.

The audience claps along in the rhythm of some of the pieces. They sing along with vocalists. This all adds to the already considerable energy. At the end of each piece, and at concert's end, there's no feeling that you ought to go on applauding until the soloist leaves the stage. They stop applauding and, usually, the soloist walks off as the other musicians gather their instruments and follow.

The audience at last night's concert loved Raymonde Abecassis (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75VZQAm1YXQ ). At the end, she stayed on stage, talking to members of the crowd.

Copyright 2014 Jane S. Fox

Andalusian Orchestra of Ashdod

Nothing on our calendar for the evening! I looked on the Jerusalem Theater website. One of the joys of the JT is that there are several things going on every day. To my delight the Andalusian Orchestra of Ashdod (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWsPnf2vtxA) was giving a concert. Only a few seats showed as available. In fact the Rivke Crown (not large) was only about three quarters full.

The music was as rousing as ever. The three soloists were up to standard.
The small, all-male, choir was from Kiryat Gat. They were excellent, an encouraging sign.

My first complaint ever about the Jerusalem Theater: the sound system was terrible.

Copyright 2013 jane Schulzinger Fox

Andalusian Orchestra of Ashdod, with Moroccan Guests

Last night the concert of the HaTismoret HaAndalustit of Ashdod in Jerusalem had three soloists, two of whom were Muslims visiting from Morocco.

Do these artists just leave appearances in Israel off their credit lists?

They have enthusiastic fans here. About a third of the audience responded when the singer and the kamanja-player singer addressed us in Arabic.

Copyright 2013 Jane Schulinger Fox

Shushan Purim

Mimes, acrobats, Flamenco music and dance, children's entertainers, and other performances entertained massive crowds today on the Ben Yehuda Midrakhov.

This year the Jerusalem Municipality's T"u b'Shvat activities ( http://jerusalemblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/new-year-for-trees.html ) were cancelled. Stated reason was the weather, but as it did not rain that day I think the real reason was the strike of regular workers in support of benefits for contract workers.

The performers are appearing today, on Ben Yehuda and elsewhere in the city, and drawing more crowds than I've seen on T'u b'Shvat in past years.

The Flamenco performers were particularly good and included the excellent singer who has appeared at the best flamenco concerts ( http://jerusalemblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/israel-flamenco.html ) and as a guest soloist with the Andalusian Orchestra of Ashdod. You'd think I'd remember his name by now.

Thank you, Google. His name is Yehuda Shwaiki.

Walking home, from the windows of several apartments the Book of Esther being read to the audible enjoyment of families.

Copyright 2012 Jane S. Fox

Last minute tickets

For Sunday night's Andalusian Orchestra of Ashdod ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HidnXlZbooQ&feature=related ) concert we bought last=minute tickets at about a third of the published price.

Wonderful energizing concert with a guest singer ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H9e1lnsdOg -- go about 50 seconds in ) as well

Our seats were at the top of the Henry Crowne auditorium in the Jersualem Theater -- up above the control booth. We heard everything but were a bit too far away to see the words projected behind the players. We had a great view of the musician playing the zither-like instrument, though. The only real drawback to the seats was not feeling part of the audience when they joined in with rhythmic clapping and sometimes singing along at the invitation of the vocalists.

Copyright 2012 Jane S. fox

Sad Day for Andalusian Orchestra

I was very sorry to hear that the Andalusian Orchestra will not present female singers except as a "special option." (See http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israeli-orchestra-drops-female-singer-after-pressure-from-orthodox-subscribers-1.388195 ) I enjoyed their concerts so much. I don't remember any female singer at the last concert, but there's a difference between not happening to have one and refusing to have one. They did have female musicians. Since there are "religious" people who object to female instrumentalists playing where men can hear them, will the female musicians be the next to be refused work?

Shameful!

And I'm sad because on principle I won't buy tickets to Andalusian Orchestra concerts as long as they continue this policy.

Copyright 2011 Jane S. Fox