Reckoning time can create great coincidences. Yesterday was both Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year, and Id el-Fitr or Sheker Bayram (as it is known in the Balkans and Turkic-speaking countries), the Muslim festival celebrating the end of Ramadan (or Ramazan in the Balkans and the Turkic world). To celebrate the coinciding of these two joyous events for the religions that politically don't see eye to eye, lets enjoy some clips of music performances where Judaism and Islam come together.
Here are some clips of a talented Oriental singer Yehuda Zeitoun. Yes, he's an French-Israeli Orthodox Jew of Tunisian background and he sings Oriental songs in Hebrew and Arabic to an appreciative Jewish crowd
Here is Yehuda Zeitoun performing the classic Arabic song Walla Mara at a celebration in Israel
Turkish Jewish band Sefarad with their rendition of the 19th century Istanbul favourite 'Galata Lordu'
The great voice of Bosnian sevdalinka, the late and sadly missed Safet Isović, sings the unofficial hymn of Sarajevo, Kad ja podjoh na Bembašu, which originally was a Sephardic Jewish song.
A clip dedicated to Allah to the sound of Ishar Alabina and Los Niños de Sara's hit Choukrane (Thank You).
Of course, Ishtar Alabina, who is hugely popular and famous throughout the world for her songs in Arabic, was born in Israel to Egyptian and Iraqi Jewish parents. Here she is performing with Israeli singer Kobi Peretz their hit Yachad (Together) sung in Hebrew and Arabic. Interesting how this was shown on BBC Arabic TV
One of the greatest stars of the golden age of Egyptian cinema was the fabulous Layla Murad, who was Jewish.
The grand master of Iraqi traditional music of the early 20th century - the Jewish Saleh Al Kuwaiti
Traditional Yemeni dancing performed at a celebration of Yemenite Jews in Israel
Legendary Bukharan Jewish singer Muhobbat Shamayeva singing popular Tajik songs on Soviet TV.
Turkish bellydancers moving their hips to Chava Nagila
It may be clichéd to say, but music does bring everyone together. Shana Tova! Bajram serif mubarek olsun!
No comments:
Post a Comment