Business Description: A 5-member ensemble that performs vocal and instrumental Judeo-Spanish (Sephardic) music
 
Dr. Isabelle Ganz, Mezzo-Soprano
Daniel Pincus, Tenor
George Mgrdichian, Oud
Michael Hess, Kanun, Nay, Violin
Yousif Sheronick, Doumbek, Tambourine, Tar
Alhambra performed to two sold-out audiences at Caramoor, Katonah, New York. Our first concert sold out so quickly that Caramoor asked us to do another concert earlier in the day. It, too, sold out.

Our next concerts are in South Dakota and in Long Beach, Long Island in March.

 The Hebrew word for the area now called Spain was "S'pharad." Sephardim(pron. Seffar-DEEM) were the Jews who lived in Spain until 1492, when King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella ordered them expelled. Since then, Sephardim have lived outside Spain, but have maintained their cultural and religious traditions. The Sephardim in Muslim and, then, Christian, Spain achieved a very high level of sophistication and achievements in the arts, sciences, business and government. When Ferdinand and Isabella ordered the expulsion of the Jews in 1492, the majority of the Sephardim went east and settled along the Mediterranean basin, mostly in Turkey, Greece and Italy. Some settled further east in the Muslim countries of the Levant - Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon, while others settled in the Balkans. Their language was Ladino, or Judeo-Spanish, or Judezmo: Spanish with an admixture of words of Hebrew origin, analogous to Yiddish, which was Bavarian German with Hebrew added. As the Sephardim settled in their new homes, they incorporated words from their new host languages into Ladino.

Their music had many Iberian features, such as the themes of the stories, the song forms, and distinctive rhythms. It also exhibits some Jewish modal features as well. As time went on, the newly-settled Sephardim began to pick up musical influences from their new surrounding cultures. A very funny example of the mixture of languages that was part of the Sephardic experience is one of Alhambra's favorite songs, from Alexandria, called "Fel Sha'arah." This song has phrases in Arabic, French, Italian, Turkish and English.

Alhambra was founded in 1981 by Dr. Isabelle Ganz to perform this repertory. There have been some personnel changes over the years. The personnel of the group now are:

 Dr. Isabelle Ganz, Mezzo-Soprano, guitar, Hirtenschalmei
George Mgrdichian, Oud
Michael Hess, Kanun, Nay, Violin
Daniel Pincus, Tenor
Yousif Sheronick, doumbek, riq (Arabic tambourine), frame drums

 Typically, a Sephardic song will have verses and a chorus with instrumental solos interspersed inbetween. An instrumental improvisatory solo is called, in Arabic, a taqsim(pronounced tock-SEEM). [For Hebrew scholars: What was the practice by sorcerers that was forbidden in the Torah? Yes, Qessem, or magic; same root, Q-S-M, for magic, mantic creation.] Why an Arabic name? Because of the attraction of Arabic music to all the peoples of the Middle East and the Mediterranean basin. A highpoint of an Alhambra' concert is a taqsim by George Mgrdichian on oud or Michael Hess on the reed flute or kanun. Yousif creates truly musical solos on his percussion instruments.

Our concerts typically are 2 hours in length. Alhambra performs songs as well as instrumental pieces. Isabelle or Dan will introduce the song or a duet by telling what it is about.

Alhambra has been the recipient of New York Council on the Arts grants to supplement fees for New York State performances. It is a feather in its cap to continue receiving these grants for over 5 years.

Alhambra's repertoire includes songs about weddings, dowries, the holidays, amorous intrigue or songs of religious longing. One of the group's most beautiful instrumental numbers is Bintl Balad (The Village Girl) by the great Egyptian composer Mohamed Al-Wahab. Michael Hess on Nay, or reed flute, George Mgrdichian on the oud (Arabic precursor to the lute) and Yousif Sheronick on percussion always bring the house down with this lyrical and dramatic masterpiece.

Alhambra performed to a sold-out audience at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City under the auspices of the World Music Institute, in March 1997. They also performed at the Long Island Folk Festival in March, abd at the Old Pioneer Church in Fishs Eddy, New York in August.

To find out about recordings, click on:
Alhambra's discography on Music Boulevard

 Cantor Bill Wood of Central Synagogue of Nassau County, New York wrote:

 "On March 29, 1998, Central Synagogue had the pleasure of hosting Alhambra, a group of five musicians who perform Judeo-Spanish and Middle Eastern music, on authentic instruments of those regions.

 "Alhambra was very well received, and we at Central Synagogue recommend them to any and all Jewish organizations who wish to combine an educational experience with an entertaining one as well.

 "I cannot speak highly enough about the group."

 Not that we are trying to blow our own horn...uh, shofar.

For more information, contact our manager Lisa Sapinkopf at LSapinkopf@aol.com.
Browse through the following links for information about subjects related to Sephardic music and folk music:

 BSZNet: Main Menu
BSZNet: Sephardic Music
Fortuna Web Page Biography
Discography
Sacred Bridge
Medieval Sephardic Heritage
worldmusic.com.html at www.worldmusic.com
CultureFinder
Sambusak (sephardic Stuffed Pastries)

 Send mail to Isabelle Ganz.