- Audio CD (Jun 30 1998)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Format: Import
- Label: Cleopatra
- ASIN: B000007T0K
- Other Editions: Audio CD | Audio Cassette | LP Record
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Product Details |
Track Listings
| 1. Im Nin 'Alu |
| 2. Yachilvi Veyachali |
| 3. A 'Salk |
| 4. A) Tzur Menati/B) Se'i Yona/C) Sapri Tama |
| 5. Galbi |
| 6. Ode Le' Eli |
| 7. Lefelach Harimon |
| 8. Ayelet Chen |
Product Description
From Amazon.com
It would have been groundbreaking enough for the Israeli Ofra Haza to have performed an album of Yemeni Jewish songs (she was born in Yemen). But when she and producer Bezalel Aloni added synthesizers, drum machines, and a generous helping of dance beats, they ended up creating one of the seminal records of world music--one of the very first ethno-techno releases whose reverberations extended into dance clubs around the globe, most especially with "Galbi." While its contemporary sound might make it seem shallow, there really is a lot of depth here, the lyrics coming from the poetry of 16th-century rabbi Shalom Shabazi. Along with fellow spirits like Dissidenten, Haza helped pave the way for Transglobal Underground, Natacha Atlas, and Banco de Gaia. --Chris Nickson
Album Description
Ofra Haza's death on February 23, 2000, at the age of 41 deprived the world of a lovely woman, a great vocalist, and a fearless cultural advocate. Fifty Gates of Wisdom, her 1985 album of boldly reimagined traditional Yemenite songs, brought her international fame, and decades later, it retains its ability to delight and inspire. The set list consists of secular tunes plus examples of a festive devotional style called diwan, which is common to all Oriental Jewish communities and can be sung in Hebrew, Aramaic, or Arabic. Each group has specific traditions, but the Yemeni variant is especially remarkable for its poetry, much of which was written by rabbis as far back as the 17th century. Most diwan consist of three separate sections: the a cappella nashid (prelude), the shira (singing), during which celebrants bang on copper trays, empty gasoline cans, or whatever else is handy, and a postlude called the hallel, or song of praise. The unusual percussion accompaniment came into use following the destruction of the Temple, when Jews were forbidden to play conventional musical instruments, and also as a result of periodic oppression by Muslim fundamentalists. In Haza's hands, these sinuous tunes are further spiced up by drum machines and synthesizers, pumping out the hypnotic dance beats that catapulted the album onto dancefloors throughout the world. It important to remember that this recording long predated the flood of world/techno fusions that have since overwhelmed the marketplace. Transglobal Underground, Afro-Celt Sound System, and Scandinavian groups like Garmarna all owe Haza a debt of gratitude. But despite the historic electronic flourishes, it is the siren-like charm of the singer's voice that creates the most indelible impression. ~ Christina Roden, All Music Guide
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A jewish singing in arabic... ¡Simply Wonderful!,
By Jorge Valenzuela (Chile, South America) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Yemenite Songs (Audio CD)
In this lines I don't wanna say nothing about israeli/palestinian conflict. Simply I wanna say: ¡Hey, men and women of Middle East! Ofra was a jewish woman, bred in Israel, between jewish people, but she never forgot her arabs roots, yemenites, and sang for arabs and jews with the same beauty and talent of always. Because all we have the same God, and because arabs and jews are brothers peoples. With "Fifty Gates of Wisdom/Yemenite Songs" Ofra sing wonderfully in the best album of folk music of the Yemen. "Galbi Yahib Al Hawa" is far the best, tribal and mystic like few songs. Soon, in my opinion, "Im Nin'Alu", "Ode'Le eli" and "Tzur Menti - Sei Yona - Sapri Tama" follow in beauty.A great album, wonderful. It's cannot lack in the collection of who loves the ethnic music. Ofra Haza, the Queen of Middle East. OFRA HAZA WAS A WOMAN OF PEACE...
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Charming middle eastern sounds,
By
This review is from: Yemenite Songs (Audio CD)
This wonderful album features traditional and modern instruments with songs based on the 16th century poetry of Shalom Shabazi. The opening number Im Nin'alu is a catchy mid tempo ballad and is followed by the buoyant Yachilvi Veyachali, a faster song with a complex arrangement. Ofra's voice displays its impressive diversity on A'salk, a great interplay of mostly percussion and vocals. The medley of Tzur Menati, Se'i Yona and Sapri Tama has a catchy twirling melody and Galbi is another tuneful song with a compelling rhythmic structure. Ode Le'eli is a slow ballad with repeating patterns while Lefelach Harimon is my favorite with its sweeping melody line and hypnotic percussive textures. Yemenite Songs is a pioneering album that successfully integrated traditional Middle Eastern songs with modern arrangements and pop appeal back in the middle 1980s. There is a moving spiritual undertone to many of the songs and Haza's voice is warm and engaging. If you like World Beat or the music of bands like Transglobal Underground, you will love this album.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
MUSIC AT THE GATES OF HEAVEN,
By A Customer
This review is from: Yemenite Songs (Audio CD)
Yemenite Songs is an inspired and successful effort to bring renewed life to the excellent traditional Yemenite folk music of Ofra Haza's ancestors. This album (CD) is much more than Ofra's humble characterization of it as being simply something different than the usual pop offering. These songs and lyrics date back hundreds of years, yet they are extremely accessible and enjoyable to both middle eastern and western musical ears.Catchy ethnic rhythms and melodies come vividly to life in this well crafted, richly textured, artistic production. There are no commercial compromises on this work. Extensive use is made of traditional folk instruments, including various percussion instruments. The arrangements offer as true a taste of this type of traditional Yemenite folk music as you are ever likely to hear. This music is from the Yemenite "Diwan," a book of traditional poety meant to be sung. The poems are written, but the music has been passed down orally from generation to generation. The original album was an unexpected hit and has remained one of Ofra Haza's best sellers. Every song is satisfying from the first to the last. This CD differs from Ofra's "Shirey Moledet" series of three albums even though Shirey Moledet means folk songs of the homeland. To hear the angelic voice of Ofra Haza singing the traditional Yemenite song book at the gates of Heaven, buy "Yemenite Songs." You will enjoy it over and over again as a timeless work of art.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Want to see more reviews on this item?
|
Most recent customer reviews |
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
