The Yuval Ron Ensemble Featuring Najwa Gibran - Under the Olive Tree - Sacred Songs From Middle East (2004)

The sacred musical traditions of Judaism, Sufism (Islamic mystical tradition) and the Christian Armenian Church are joined together into an extraordinary harmonious world of its own. A Song of Sufi origin from Turkey is sung both in Arabic and Hebrew, a Jewish prayer from Morocco is introduced by an Armenian chant and a Yemenite Jewish prayer receives a gripping clarinet solo in the best tradition of the Armenian performance style.

Arranged by composer and world-music record producer Yuval Ron, these tracks are all about emotion and passion. It is soulful mystical music that touches upon the ancient and deep inter-cultural connection the three sacred traditions share.

As the Middle East remains a region saturated with conflict and hatred The Yuval Ron Ensemble is releasing an unusual CD uniting the sacred music of the three religions of the Middle East. Since their stirring presentation at the World Festival of Sacred Music in LA last September, the ensemble focused on re-creating the live concert experience in the recording studio environment.

The multi-ethnic ensemble features the great Middle Eastern singer Najwa Gibran (recently appeared on the soundtrack of Helen of Troy) and Armenian woodwind master Norik Manoukian (featured duduk player on Dead Man Walking soundtrack).

Najwa Gibran esta considerada una de los mejores cantantes árabes. Es una experta en la técnica tradicional árabe vocal llamada Mawal y tambien en canciones populares libanesas y beduinas. Najwa creció en Haifa en una familia musical de herencia árabe cristiana. Inició su formación musical con su padre Marun en técnicas vocales de Oriente Medio y Maqamatt (sistema de escalas musicales tradicionales de oriente medio ) y estudió piano en el Conservatorio de Haifa. Desde la edad de 13 años, Najwa ha cantado profesionalmente en diversos eventos de la comunidad árabe. Después de emigrar a Canadá continuó sus estudios en el Real Conservatorio de Toronto donde estudió voz. Ella es la vocalista principal con el Arabesque Dance Company de Canadá y El Yuval Ron Ensemble en Los Ángeles.


The Yuval Ron Ensemble :

Najwa Gibran - voice
Maya Haddi - voice
Yeghish Manoukian - duduk, zurna, shvi (flute) and clarinet
Virginie Alumyan - kanoun
Jamie Papish - percussion
David Martinelli - percussion
Carolyne Aycaguer-Ron - keyboards
Yuval Ron - oud, saz and musical director


01. Tudra
02. El helwa di
03. Illahi
04. D'ror yikra
05. Fogel nakhal
06. Kol nidrey
07. Shaya Dance
08. Vartani mor vort
09. Laz
10. Walla Zaman