Review: Shir Chadash- Traditional Jewish Songs

Subject: Review: Shir Chadash- Traditional Jewish Songs
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 08 Aug 08 - 07:50 AM

In a month or so, Ehud Banai will release an album of traditional Jewish liturgical and paraliturgical songs called Shir Chadash (a new song). A lot of them are piyyutim, but as he doesn't consider himself able to sing piyyuts, he's termed them zemirot. All the songs are traditional (well, some of the melodies are by Shlomo Carlebach), but the arrangements are new. In the press release, Ehud Banai talks about the Jewish concept of having something new with something old, like wine and bread at the Sabbath table. He includes songs from both the Sepphardi and Ashkenazi traditions. There are two singles out, Shelosha Devarim (three things), from the Yemenite tradition, and El Adon Al Kol Hamaasim, from the Modzhitz Chasidic community.
His homepage is in Hebrew, but on the top left-hand corner there are two boxes. The bottom one is Shelosha Devarim, the top one- El Adon.
http://www.ehudbanai.co.il/

You can also try here, by clicking on the ear. El Adon.
http://www.piyut.org.il/tradition/192.html?currPerformance=433

Shelosha Devarim.
http://www.piyut.org.il/tradition/2335.html?currPerformance=3030

Judging by the two singles, the album should be excellent, folk rock done the proper way, with soul, with roots. I think it would appeal not only to Jews, but to anyone who likes accoustic and world music.
Jewish liturgy often deals with the search for yourself, for who you are, so in a way, they are universal.

Here are some tracks which I don't think are on the album.

Ana Bekoach. The lyrics are traditional, the melody is Ovadia Hamama's. He sings it with Ehud.
http://www.piyut.org.il/tradition/1304.html?currPerformance=1723

Odeh LaEl/Rechov Haagas 1/Asadra Leseudata.
Ehud Banai relates a childhood experience of hearing his grandfather wake up before dawn to sing the first song. Ehud sings it in both the Persian and Breslav melodies, he then segues into a song dedicated to his grandfather, Rechov Haagas, which in turn segues into the traditional Asadra Leseudata.

Subject: RE: Review: Shir Chadash- Traditional Jewish Songs
From: maeve
Date: 08 Aug 08 - 09:27 AM

This sounds intriguing. Thank you for making the post to let us know.

Subject: RE: Review: Shir Chadash- Traditional Jewish Songs
From: GUEST,Volgadon
Date: 02 Oct 08 - 11:01 AM

The album is out, I'll give it a couple of listens, then post a review.