HinweiseThe Yuval Ron Ensemble includes Jewish, Arabic and Christian artists who come together to perform the sacred and folklore music of the Middle East. The ensemble is actively involved in creating musical bridges between people of the Jewish, Muslim and Christian faiths, and is dedicated to fostering an understanding of Middle Eastern cultures through music.

And what wonderful music it is. “Tree of Life” is their newest CD and revolves around the very ancient symbol of the Tree of Life, in it’s Jewish Kabalistic form, it’s Christian Medieval form and the Islamic Persian Tree of Life. As in their previous outings, the ensemble is joined by the amazing voices of Najwa Gibran and Maya Haddi.

Songs:

Aman Aman/Nour El Kadhar (Light of Destiny) opens the CD. The song begins with the sounds of birds., then a instrumental introduction which is joined by the voice, with the strumming of Yuval Ron’s oud the ensemble enters and the voice sings the poetry of Nour El Kadar that describes the beloved as the moon, the source of destiny’s light, the order of love and the one who exists from the beginning of life till the end of time.

Lo Yira (Will Not Fear)—an Andalusian melody

Hanoded (The Wanderer)—a combination of Armenian and Hebrew songs

Bekhaterkoun (Farewell)—An Iraqi introduction leads to an Andalusian style Mawal

Los Bilbillcos (The Nightingales)—A medley of two traditional songs of the Ladino Diaspora.

Andalusian—combines Spanish, Turkish and Moroccan sources

Olor Molor—An Armenian song’s rendering of a broken heart

Rimonim ( Pomegranates)—The pomegranate fruit was blessed by more seeds than any other fruits on earth, therefore it is included in the Jewish New Year ritual as a symbol for prosperity in the coming year

Kholat Ahava (Love Sick)—An Arab-Hebrew folk dance of co-existence, mutual respect and celebration of love

Tseter (Birds)—A brief visit from a musical bird to the Tree of Life as Yeghish Manukian performs a brilliant and stunning flute solo.