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

Myumina

Although Myumina, which we went to last night, is loud and not tuneful, most of the audience was middle age and older and had a grand time. Hugely energetic, its best parts are the sll-cast percussion numbers. Dancing is wonderful. Singing is excellent, though not traditionally tuneful. Great evening.

Copyright 2016 Jane Fox

La Dune

I recommend the film La Dune. The first 10 or 15 minutes being in Hebrew and the rest almost entirely in French may limit the audience. If you do see it, please let me know how the author-who-had-run-away fit in.

Copyright 2016 Jane Fox

Theater Games

Each member of the improv trio said one word, repeat. You've probably seen improv troupes create a scene this way.

In Hebrew, "and when I saw" is a single word. So is "and at my house."

Copyright 2015 Jane S. Fox

Crowds

Yesterday, which was Purim for the rest of the country, the crowds on ben Ydhuda, King George (V; he was king of England when Allenby took Jerusalem from the Turks) and the part of Yafo Rd that connects them were larger than I remember seeing before. Many children and a few adults were in costume. Today, Purim in Jerusalem, they were huge there (buskers on ben Yehuda), at Kikar Safra (stages with flamenco and other dancers, a Chinese dragon, and various other entertainment) and the Mamilla Mall (fire dancers, a DJ, and stilt walkers). Most of the kids and lots of adults were in costume. Klaxons and bells sounding as loud as they could, tram-trains pushed through pedestrians.

Yesterday and today the above-windshield displays on buses alternated showing the destinations (as they usually do) and Happy Purim. Somehow this brought to mind the bit in Zacharia about inscriptions on horses' bells.

Copyright 2013 Jane Schulzinger Fox

Arab Women SIngers

I missed the Islamic Art Museum's (http://www.islamicart.co.il/en/ ) lecture series on Arab women, but I made it to the concert which served as the final lecture. Two women who were a little late found chairs they could put in the wide aisle ahead of me and proceeded to chatter while the four-musician ensemble from the Nazareth Orchestra played. When the singer Lubna Salame ( http://worldmusiccentral.org/artists/artist_page.php?id=1677Listen to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ijJ1jEOHsg )entered, they quieted, and it became clear that, like much of the audience, they knew the songs. Ms Salame encouraged them to sing the choruses. Listen to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ijJ1jEOHsg with Ms. Lubna entering at about 2:48.

Copyright 2013 Jane Schulzinger Fox

Dorel Golan

I've often said I don't particularly like piano recitals, but I've changed my mind.

Why? Dorel Golan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqboNwwVBLw

Copyright 2012 Jane S. 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

From Flamenco to Balkan

On our walk home after a Flamenco performance dedicated to Cameron (http://www.andalucia.com/flamenco/musicians/camarondelaisla.htm ) we saw a crowd outside Sigimund's. Two were dancing, others swaying. From inside we heard Balkan music. As we crossed Ha'ari, we could see the violinist and percussionist through the glass sides of the tiny building (really an oversized kiosk). In a taxi we'd have missed that.

This Flamenco concert had less dancing (and fewer dancers) than the last and more singing (and musicians and singers). Except for a headless man a few short riffs by the musicians and singers, including the very pregnant one, all the dancing was by Sharon Sagi, the woman who starred in the previous concert.

The program including filmclips of Cameron (de La Isla) who rose "from the streets" in his words, to be the idol of flamenco lovers.

The music and dance were wonderful, but we would have liked program notes with lyrics. Tantalizing to catch only those few Spanish words I know like girl, tomorrow, and heart.

Copyright 2011 Jane S. Fox

beit Avi Chai

Beit Avi Khai (http://www.bac.org.il/ ) has (among other amenities) a little theater in which Nurit Hirsh (http://212.68.147.44/NuritHirshNew/index.html ) presented the songs of Yair Rosenblum (http://www.activemusician.com/music--yair_rosenblum ) in a delightful program featuring Or Ilan (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC2GtJvLUbY&feature=youtube_gdata ) and HaAkhim Tzankhani (http://www.mitchatnim.co.il/members/knahanim/pro.asp ).

Rosenblum wrote catchy tunes, ofen sychopating a repeated word.

Projected lyrics helped the audience sing along. Thear voices felt pleasantly friendly, except when Or Ilan set her voice free. Then the audience was a distraction until Ilan's soaring sound flooded my ears and mind.

Copyright 2010 Jane S. Fox

Costumes

The Jerusalem Theater hosts free concerts in the lobby from time to time -- anything from a lone pianist to a complete jazz band or rock group. You can see the art displays in the Jerusalem Theater for free, but right now they also have a very extensive exhibit of theatrical costumes, that costs 10NIS and well worth the cost. Thursday I tagged along with the guided tour. The guide greatly enriched the experience.

Copyright 2009 Jane S. Fox

See also familyhonor.blogspot.com

Free Weekly Concerts

Tickets for the Israel Broadcast Authority's free concerts are handed out in the small lobby inside the Jerusalem Theater's side door. Concerts are every Monday at 5 (except this coming week when it is on Tuesday) and tickets are available from 4 PM. You'll get a ticket marked "void" for some old concert indicating a seat that doesn't matter because seating is open. The IBA uses the tickets only to count the house.

While you're waiting for the auditorium doors to open, have a look at the art in the temporary exhibitions. Right now on display are gorgeous pictures that Ethiopean Jews embroidered in painstaking chainstitch. Wish I could afford to buy one.

Last week's concert featured a chorus that proved its ability singing plain song and a Monteverdi mass, then wailed a modern setting of a sixth century Arab poet's lament on her brother's death. After the first few notes we were very sorry he had died and by the end those who remained in the concert hall felt her pain sharply.

In contrast, this week's concert was a joy of percussion. I doubt I'd download this music. The exileration and delight came from sight as well as sound. Nor does a video enchant me as PercaDu ( http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=garu-eGN14I and http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=146495540 ) did in person. I'll buy a ticket to their next concert. They play with the Philharmonic, as you can se and hear on the Youtube, but on Monday I liked them best when the piece was pure percussion.

Anyone know the name of that strange instrument they play? The announcer said it looks like a lying saucer, but I thought it looked as much like a covered, circular, Weber grill. As the announcer commented it sounds a bit like a steel drum.

Copyright 2009 Jane S. Fox


See also www,familyhonor.blogspot.com

Yinon Muallem

The room in the basement of the Islamic Art Museum was about the right size for chamber music, though not quite the right shape. We arrived early enough to sit close to the musicians. Their music encompassed us. Greece, Iran, Bulgaria, Iraq beat through us into the hall. You had to be there. I bought CDs, but to be in the presence of the musicians to see them and feel the crowd listening, t hat cannot be recorded. Check the notice board in the wall outside the Islamic Art Museum or their website ( http://www.islamicart.co.il/default.htm ) for events.

Yinon Muallem - vocals, percussion (http://www.yinon-muallem.com/live/ -- but this doesn't capture his percussion virtuosity)

Nissim Lugasi - vocals, tar

Eyal Sela - clarinet, flutes

Yankele Segal - bass guitar

Yaniv Raba - `ud

Copyright 2009 Jane S. Fox

Arbor Day

• Four different new years are referenced in the Bible. Ancient Jews decided that the onr on the 15th of Av is the new year for trees.
• At noon in Jerusalem the rain paused . The sun even shone briefly. The entertainers in the Maheneh Yehuda shouk drew crowds.
• When the Kurdish dancers walked up the street with drummer, horn, and shofar (which I did not hear sounded) the Klezmer band played a marching tune until they passed. Then the clarinetist took fire.
• A marching klzmer band, heavy on the brass, made the rounds.
• Elsewhere, a woman sang in Ladino and her musicians played eastern melodies, old and new.
• Alround the corner, two older men with glorious young voices sang songs that passersby foxtrotted to, though the Artie Shaw never played such eastern modes.
• A mime in the best tree costume I have ever seen grew slowly. Another mime was draped in white, like the blossoms of the almond tree, which blooms at this season. A stilt walker appeared in more white drapery and another as a more colorful tree. Clowns tossed roses from balconies. Line dancers debkaed. Jugglers juggled. A candy maker rolled mashed dates in oatmeal and ground almonds.
• Camera phones were held high, but you really want to be there.

Copyright 2008 Jane S. Fox

Tu bShvat in Jerusalem

• This year, Tu bShvat, falls on Tuesday, January 21.
• The Municipality has announced that entertainers will be in the Mahaneh Yehuda shouk from noon to 4.
• So the entertainment won't be unexpected ( http://jerusalemblog.blogspot.com/2006/02/unexpected-february-entertainment.html ).
• Though if it rains, the expected entertainment may be cancelled.

Copyright 2008 Jane S. Fox

Private Guides

• If you've done a guided tour of Israel and discovered that your choices for the next guided tour cover much the same ground, you can go around on your own, or hire a guide.
• Many sites offer English tours: for example, Ir Daveed (http://jerusalemblog.blogspot.com/2006/11/city-of-david.html ), the Israel Museum (http://jerusalemblog.blogspot.com/2006/11/model.html ), the Municipality (http://jerusalemblog.blogspot.com/2006/12/valley-street.html ). Egged's Line 99 around Jerusalem (http://www.egged.co.il/Eng/main.asp?lngCategoryID=2773 ) provides commentary in English as do the other tours run by Egged and United Tours (http://www.unitedtours.co.il/map.html ).These tours let you come to Israel on your own and pick where you want to go.
• Although you can find licensed guides on the Internet, I recommend contacting Beit Shmuel and asking to be put in contact with one of their English-speaking guides.
  972 2-620 3461 or Doron_yosha@wupj.org.il
• Yad Ben Tzvi has excellent guides, but I don't know whether the organizaiton will set up private tours. You can try them at 972 2 539 8855 or had@ybz.org.il
• Tell them what interests you: architecture, art, bakeries, crusaders, literary references, neighborhoods, nineteenth-century history, prophets, travelers to Jerusalem ...; or list things you want to see and learn about. Tell them how much you want to walk or climb and how sure-footed you are or are not.

Copyright 2007 Jane S. Fox

Local Entertainment

• If you can get away from your tour in the evening, enjoy a concert at Beit Shmuel (http://www.beitshmuel.com/index.htm), the Jerusalem Theater (http://www.jerusalem-theatre.co.il/default.asp), or Beit HaCohnfedehrahtsia (http://www.confederationhouse.org/english/ ). If the concierge at your hotel cannot tell you the schedule, phone any of these venues and ask in English, or email in English.
• Don't worry about feeling lost. Many people at each place speak English. Many of the concert goers are native speakers (called in Hebrew "anglosaxim"). All three places are in walking distance of the htels on Jabotinsky and King David Streets.
• At the Jerusalem theater and Beit HaConfederatzia you can have a good meal or a glass of wine before or after the concert. Beit Shmuel has a smaller cafe, which is not open as late.
• In my experience, Jerusalem concerts are scheduled for late and start later, but the lobbies in all three places are pleasant. At the theater there is a small book and music store and a changing art exhibit. Often there is also live music in the lobby.
• The Turkish music concert Tuesday at Beit HaConfederatiza was good but a bit academic. The explanations interfered with building excitement. The Oud Festival and the concert of Ethiopean music were hard to live up to.

Copyright 2006 Jane S. Fox

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

Persian Oud

• Wednesday's oud concert, concluding the Oud Festival, featured a Persian quartet from Los Angeles. The US Cultural Attache introduced them in English, saying they showed American influence. Aside from the lead singer's possibly American accent, I couldn't sense any.
• Words to the poetry by Attar (http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/A/AttarFaridud/ ), Rumi (http://www.khamush.com/), and Nurbakhsh. For the concert of Asher Mizrahi's work (http://jerusalemblog.blogspot.com/2006/11/oud.html), they projected the words on a screen behind the musicians. For this one they projected views of the musicians, which gave us closeups of nimble fingers on oud, psaltery (played with qwo tiny hammers shaped like spoons or miniature skis), and drums.
• This oud was shaped like a figure 8.
• The music took us east, reminding me of India or even China.
• (Note the comment below. Now I'll try to discover whether "oud" and "psaltery" are general enough terms to include the instruments at this concert.)

Copyright 2006 Jane S. Fox

birds

• Tucked away near the Knesset, Israel Museum, and Bible Lands Museum (http://jerusalemblog.blogspot.com/2006/11/free-lectures.html ) is a bird observation and banding station overlooking a small pond. "The site is one of the few traditional birdwatching areas in Jerusalem that has not been harmed by development, and is centrally located."
• In addition to local birds, migratory birds land here.
• At http://www.jbo.org.il/Eng%20index.htm note that the scroll bar is on the left. Of all people, Jimmy Carter is pictured watching birds.
• The same group also organizes bird watching at Mamilla, which is quite close to hotels. Check http://groups.yahoo.com/group/janglo/messages for announcements.
• http://jerusalemblog.blogspot.com/2006/07/fantastic-animals.html and http://jerusalemblog.blogspot.com/2006/06/frogs.html and http://jerusalemblog.blogspot.com/2006/06/cats.html and http://jerusalemblog.blogspot.com/2006/06/gazelles.html and http://jerusalemblog.blogspot.com/2006/06/two-horses.html for more about Jerusalem animals, real and fantastic.

Copyright 2006 Jane S. Fox