Flamenco Project Concert

This concert at Confederation House was entirely instrumental and vocal -- and excellent, although not all the music was Flamenco, and I do not know why. Nor why this was a "project." No dancers, there'd have been no room for them on the narrow stage. Excellent concert, as every concert at Beit HaConfederation has been.

Copyright 2018 Jane S. Fox

From Tunisia to Jerusalem and the Mahgreb

Last Thursday's concert at Confederation House was what we particularly like -- a bit of family history and a lot of North African music. I was particularly happy that I recognized the first tune. Not that I know its name, and I certainly could not sing it for you, but I knew I had heard it before. I was also pleased that when they played a new melody to words I know (such as Ya Ribon), I heard the music as a melody and could sing along. To be sure, the rest of the audience certainly knew the words and music and carried me.

The night before, at Beit Avi Chai, we had also heard north African music, from a slightly wider area. This, too, was a delightful concert. We were pleased to see such a variety of ages in the audience from primary-school kids to aged grandparents.

Copyright 2018 Jane S. Fox

Oud

The Confederation House is a good lace to find eastern music. Last Thursday we went to a concert in which a Mroccan old player wh o studied with an Iraqi master played that graceful instruument with his ensemble f accordionist, two percussionists, bass fiddler and kanonist. Wonderful.

Beit HaConfederatsia also holds a vegetarian restaurant (no fish) with vegan dishes marked.

Copyright 2017 Jane S. Fox

Eucalyptus Restaurant

The Eucalyptus Restaurant at the Khutsot HaYotzer artists' colony https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hutzot_Hayotzer is convenient to the Jaffa Gate as well as Beit haConfederatzia; the Hirsch Theater at Beit Shmuel; and the King David, Citadel, and Waldorf Astoria hotels. It is expensive and good.

The menu indicates which items include guten and which are, or can be prepared, vegan. As it is a kosher meat restaurant, no worries if you are sensitive to dairy products. A big plus, they understand food sensitivities and can tell you with assurance what is in every dish.

COpyright 2017 Jane S. 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

Snow forecast again

Ynet reports the roads into Jerusalem are packed. Israelis like the idea of snow.

Very pretty until the power goes out or the water goes off. I'll leave a tap dripping to prevent this apartment's taps from bursting, but last time a water main was out for hours. I've filled empty bottles. Had those last time. THis time will also fill a bucket. Where to put it so we don't knock it over? In the shower, I guess.

Tonight's concert has been postponed to next Wednesday. They phoned about that. I had already seen the postponement on their website. I've laid in food for three days. The stovetop is gas. But the heat is electric. We'll leave the shutters up, because they, too, are electric.

If I had boots, this might be fun.

Copyright 2015 Jane S. Fox

Beit Aba

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRz4jE0x0lU Elad Gabbay vocals, oud, qanun; Eliyahu Digmi Turkish saz; Ilan Keynan vocals, guitars; Ora Baranes vocals and guitar; Yoni Sharon percussion and background vocals; Yehuda Ashash bass presented a rousing concert. First time I'd every seen an electric oud. It looks wrong, and its sound takes some getting used to. I don't know why Gabbay looked unhappy much of the time. His music was lively and much appreciated by the audience, which participated in several numbers. Bet HaConfederatsia (http://www.confederationhouse.org/en/ ) is a venue to check out. You'll be pleased with yourselves for finding it.

Copyright 201 Jane Schulzinger Fox

Hadas Pal-Yarden at Bet HaConfederatsia

Hadas Pal-Yarden sang beautifully at Bet HaConfederatia ( http://www.confederationhouse.org and http://www.confederationhouse.org/en/ )with four other musicians, all wonderful performers of Turkish and Kurdish music. I like venues that are intimite without being nightclubs.

One of the percussionist's instruments was new to me -- shaped like a large urn with a bulbous body, a narrowed waist, and a top that flarred to be capped by a drum head. Covering, partially covering, and uncovering a round opening in the side of the body, the percussionist changed the tone of the drum.

Bet HaConfederatsia hosts ethnic music concerts, poetry readings, and lectures. An Ethiopian play is listed for the end of this month.

I keep reminding myself that the small restaurant off the tiny lobby looks like a good place to eat before a concert, but I have not tried it yet.

On a less wortIhy note, was fascinated by one woman's boots, which, by cunning use of stitching on felt or soft leather, gave the impression she wore fine socks with thin soles or perhaps was a hobbit.

Coyright 2013 Jane Schulzinger Fox