18 aliyot
ISRAELI FOLKLORE AND MUSIC OF THE DIASPORA
Israeli/Portuguese singer, composer, and folklore expert Noam Vazana guides a global exploration of the Jewish sound through 18 songs. Each of classic tunes from Germany, Russia, Yemen, Morocco, Poland, Ethiopia (and more) represent 18 Aliyot (migration waves). Each song encapsulates a culture, setting, or feeling from its place of origin, as well a strand of Israeli cultural and personal identity brought over through the music. Taken together, these beloved sounds offer an eye-opening reflection on how Israel came to be the multi-cultured, vibrant, and complex state it is today.
This four-part lecture and conversation series is an audiophilic dive into the Ashkenazi culture of Europe; the Sephardim of Andalusia; the Israelites of Africa; and the melting pot of Klezmer in Hollywood. Each class will be accompanied by rare archival video and photos courtesy of the National Library in Jerusalem.
Teacher: Noam Vazana is an acclaimed international singer, composer, pianist and trombonist. She is a professor of Voice & Music Career Studies at the London Performing Academy of Music and an enthusiast advocate to the revival of Ladino language. She has toured extensively throughout Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North America, represented the Netherlands at the EU Music Festival in Vietnam and played a solo concert at the Kennedy Center USA. She regularly lectures and speaks on panels about Sephardic music, Cultural Awareness, Ladino, Folklore and more.
Syllabus
A review of Ashkenazi migration waves Since the 1800’s and the 1960’s.
2nd lecture: Sefaradim of Andalusia
The Spanish & Portuguese expulsions
4th lecture: Klezmer in Hollywood
Focus on: Greece, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, USA, Canada
Jaffa Harbour and Florentine founded by the Greek jews
How The Wizard Of Oz brings a promise to the land of milk and honey