"TREE OF LIFE"
a new CD by
The Yuval Ron Ensemble
featuring
Najwa Gibran
Manufactured and distributed by Magda Records.
Tree of Life is an exciting new CD by the world renowned Yuval Ron Ensemble featuring the Arabic female vocalist Najwa Gibran and produced by Israeli born world music scholar-composer-performer Yuval Ron. In its second album to date, the ensemble weaves together the sacred and folkloric music of Andalusia (Southern Spain), the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia into a rich tapestry of musical and cultural amalgamation. Formed in 1999, The Yuval Ron Ensemble includes Arabic, Israeli and Jewish musicians as well as Christian Armenian artists who are actively involved in creating musical bridges between people of the Jewish, Muslim and Christian faiths, and are dedicated to fostering an understanding of Middle Eastern cultures and religions through music. The Tree of Life, from which this album takes its name, is a cross-cultural symbol for Life, Humanity, and the Universe, and is sacred to all three major religions of the Middle East.
The Tree of Life CD is an inspiring example of a harmonious collaboration between artists from various conflicting Middle Eastern peoples and cultures. The album intertwines music from Morocco, Turkey, Iraq, Israel, Armenia, Andalusia, and Bukhara (Uzbekistan), sung in Hebrew, Arabic, Ladino (a Spanish-Jewish language) and Turkish. Often the songs are sung in alternating languages creating a journey within, as the songs themselves take the listener on a passage from one ethnic world to another. There are devotional prayers and sacred love songs from Hebrew and Arabic sources, Andalusian songs with the inherent influence of the Golden Age of Spain, and new songs by Yuval Ron and Maroon Tannus, which are based on the traditional music of the Middle East and beyond. Producer Yuval Ron has managed to render a plentiful and complex musical experience, creating a new sound with traditional materials without stepping into the less substantial yet fashionable "fusion" trends of the contemporary World Music styles.
In the Tree of Life, tender and delicate moments can be found side by side along with passionate and exciting performances. The album features the legendary Armenian Woodwind master Yeghish Manukyan, who showcases nostalgic, meditative, and energetic qualities with his ethereal Duduk playing, and his breathtaking clarinet virtuosity. Najwa Gibran and Maya Haddi ensue with soulful vocal performances that soar above the dynamic ensemble accompaniments.