Catalogue

Summary:

“With their cosmopolitan, multi-instrumental bandmates, Stern and Mor perform on recorders with as much flair as scholarly acumen… these musicians serve as superb ambassadors with the verve of a 15th-century jam-session” – Early Music America

“Spanning a vast range of Sephardic folk and traditional musics – stories and dances, prayers and anthems – Ija Mia is by turns haunting, soulful and exuberant” – Exclusive Magazine

“Daphna Mor and Nina Stern lead the East of the River ensemble, and on their latest album they celebrate their ethnic/regional heritages … on this collection you’ll hear Jewish prayers accompanied by the oud and the qanún, as well as keening clarinets that evoke klezmer music and rhythms that anticipate tango and flamenco … all of it is hauntingly lovely” – CD Hotlist

“While each track is fundamentally different in character, each is performed with a mesmerizing rhythmic groove” – American Record Guide

The spirited New York City-based ensemble East of the River debuts on AVIE with Ija Mia: Soundscape of the Sephardic Diaspora. Directed by the dynamic duo of internationally renowned “recorder virtuosos” (The New York Times) Daphna Mor (regular collaborator with Apollo’s Fire) and Nina Stern, the album is inspired by love and commemoration of the musicians’ collective cultural backgrounds – Nina’s Venetian Jewish ancestry, and Daphna’s Ladino heritage. Spanning a vast range of Sephardic folk and traditional musics – stories and dances, prayers and anthems – Ija Mia is by turns haunting, soulful and exuberant. Daphna and Nina’s cosmopolitan collaborators include an astonishing assortment of musicians including renowned Armenian-American oud player Ara Dinkjian, Silk Road percussionist Shane Shanahan, the phenomenal Israeli bassist Tal Mashiach, and Palestinian multi-instrumentalist Zafer Tawil on qanún, violin, and percussion.

Tracklist:

1. Ija Mia 3.29
Trad. Sephardic (Turkey)

2. Adio Kerida 3.33
Trad. Sephardic

3. Porke Yorach 5.57
Trad. Sephardic

4. Ein Keloheinu 4.05
Text: Anonymous (pre 9th century) • Melody: Sephardic (Morocco)

5. Anzi dice la nuestra novia 2.41
Trad. Sephardic (Rhodes)

6. Oud Taksim 1.15

7. Achot Ketana 3.56
Text: R. Abraham Hazan Girundi (Spain, 13th century) • Melody: Sephardic (Morocco)

8. Yigdal 4.47
Text: R. Daniel ben Yehudah (Rome, 13th century) | Melody: Sephardic (Jerusalem)

9. Kürdi Taksim 0.53

10. Kürdi Peşrev 3.28
Solakzade Mehmed Hemdemi (1592–1658) from the manuscript of Dimitrie Cantemir

11. Shir Hashirim 4.37
Text: Song of Songs 1:1–2 | Melody: based on Salonika cantorial style

12. Hicaz Sirto 3.02
Sultan Abdulaziz (1830–1876)

Total Duration: 41.45

East of the River

Nina Stern, recorders
Daphna Mor, voice, recorders
Ara Dinkjian, oud, cümbüş
Tal Mashiach, bass
Shane Shanahan, percussion
Zafer Tawil, violin, qanun, percussion
John Hadfield, percussion (1, 12)

All music arranged by Daphna Mor and Nina Stern; except 1, arranged by Kane Mathis, Daphna Mor and Nina Stern.