> Image Galery
> Janet and Jak Esim Ensemble in press Sephardic music in Judeo Spanish and Ladino. The greatest performers and rediscoverers of Ladino song in the world today-- present Ladino songs from the treasury of romances, vocals and instrumentals of the community of exiles from Spain, who created new lives throughout the Ottoman Empire some 500 years ago. Ballads and songs of longing, sadness and love reflect a rich musical culture. This is a culture filled with warm, rich melodies marked by the route taken by the exiles and the voices of the lands in which they found new homes, however their roots are planted deep in the Gold Age of their creation: Medieval Spain. Echoes of the European Renaissance are heard in this music, alongside sounds from the musical traditions of the Mediterranean and Aegean, and even South America. The songs are presented in the polyphonic style of their sources and in an authentic spirit, through the vocals and instrumentals of the members of the Ensemble for Jewish-Spanish Music, which includes some of the finest musicians of contemporary Turkey. The story: Jak Esim has been greatly influenced by the Sephardic songs he has heard from his elder family members since his childhood and has been personally involved with these songs in the late 70s. He performed songs he had gathered from elderly members of his society with his amateur music groups. He introduced these songs to the Turkish society and media as a duo with Cem Ikiz at Cekirdek Sanat Evi for the first time in 1985 and has gained great interest. Following the participation of his wife, Janet, and later Erkan Ogur and Murat Ozbey into his music works, they produced their first album Judeo-Espanyol Ezgiler in 1989. This album is of major importance as it consists of songs he collected over the years and his research. The album Antik bir Hüzün was released in 1992 with the same approach. Okay Temiz and Tarik Sezer gave additional support in this album. Both albums were recognised internationally and were later put together into one album called Sefardim 1 in Germany. Sefardim 1 received the German Critics Award as the Best Folk Album of the Year. The interest from the radios, festivals and concert halls followed which initiated the foundation of the Janet & Jak Esim Ensemble. A part of their Munich and Ankara concerts were released as a live recording in 1994 in the album Birkac Sonsuzluk Ani. Janet and Jak Esim, with the group consisting of Erkan Ogur, Bulent Ortacgil, Nezih Yesilnil and Murat Ozbey, have been presenting Sephardic music concerts in various venues and festivals throughout Europe. Many unknown songs were discovered through their work and performed in their authentic forms by the most important musicians in Turkey. Their journey continued with Herman Heder and Yahya Dai joining the group and the release of Mira in 2003 and Adio in 2006. In these recent albums, the Western influence within the Sephardic culture was brought forward and these albums were successful in reflecting both Eastern and Western cultures. The ensemble maintains its aim to introduce Sephardic music with its different elements throughout the world and to form different vibes starting from this ethnic structure. Jak Esim Jak Esim is one of the world’s most important researchers and collectors of songs from this disappearing culture and language. His research can be found published in selected encyclopedias and in his essays. Many unknown songs were discovered through his work and performed in their authentic forms by the most important musicians in Turkey. He has presented and produced a programme over 6 months on Acik Radyo, a well known radio station in Turkey. This musical documentary was called Romanslarin Gocu (Migration of Romances / Historical adventure of Judeo-Espanyol melodies). He has also made presentations based on his research. The most recent one in 2006 was on "Sefardic Liturgical and Paraliturgical Musical Tradition" at the International Music Congress on ” Musical Culture in Turkey throughout the history” in Istanbul. The Ladino sound collection which was collected and recorded by Jak Esim in the Jewish Sephardic community of Istanbul during the years of 1960 - 2005 will be added to the National Sound Archives of The National Library of Israel in Jerusalem. The music: Jak Esim believes that modal influence is essential to this music’s foundation. This modal influence has been tried various times around the world but has not yet been achieved. Jak believes that the modal influence should be performed and presented correctly, and whilst preserving the modal influence, harmonisation in the sub structure should not be missed. Although the Eastern influence forms an important part of these songs, it is still undiscovered. Awards: 1992 Sefardim 1 (German Critics Award) Sephardim Up to the fifteenth century, "Sephardi" was used primarily to refer to the Jewish community in the Iberian peninsula itself, or to someone who was born there. The descendants of Jews who left Spain or Portugal after the 1492 expulsion are referred to as Sephardim. In 1492, Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand commanded that all Jews who refused to convert to Christianity be expelled from Spain. It is estimated that 100,000 Jews left Spain at this time. Many Spanish Jews settled in Portugal, which allowed the practice of Judaism. In 1497, however, Portugal also expelled its Jews. King Manuel of Portugal agreed to marry the daughter of Spain’s monarchs. One of the conditions for the marriage was the expulsion of Portugal’s Jewish community. In actuality only eight Jews were exiled from Portugal and the rest converted, under duress, to Christianity. A large number of Jews settled in North Africa and in the Ottoman Empire, especially, Turkey and Greece. Spanish exiles brought with them a unique culture, language (Ladino) and traditions. Many of these immigrants continued to speak Ladino until the 20th century. Today, Jews descended from the communities where Spanish Jews settled are called Sephardim. > More on Jewish Music... Discography: Solo Albums: 2006 Adio 2005 Antik Bir Huzun (Re-Release) 2005 Birkac Sonsuzluk Ani (Re-Release) 2003 Mira 1994 Birkac Sonsuzluk Ani (live recording of the group’s Munich and Ankara concerts) 1992 Sefardim 1 (German Critics Award) 1992 Antik Bir Huzun 1989 Judeo Espanyol Ezgiler Compilations: 2001 A Jewish Odyssey (Putumayo) 2000 La Yave 1993 Europäisches Jiddish Festival - Leverkusen Performances: COUNTRIES: Belgium: Auditorium 44 (Brüssel) Germany: Beroltzheimerianum (Fürth), Börse (Wuppertal), Gasteig (München), Haus der Kulturen der Welt (Berlin), Kammerspiele (Nürnberg), Kulturamt (Wuppertal), Kunsthalle (Bremen), Kulturcafe (Kiel), Laboratorium (Stuttgart), Passage 44, Pavillon (Hannover), Philharmonie Essen - Alfried Krupp Hall (Essen), Ravensberger Spinnerei (Bielefeld), Saalbau (Frankfurt), Stadtmuseum (Ludwigshafen), Stadt Nürnberg (Alte & neue Musik aus Südeuropa), Stadtwerke Saal (Frankfurt), Volkshochschule (Schwäbisch Gmünd), Zeche Carl (Essen). Israel: International Oud Festival, Henry Crown Hall - Jerusalem Theater (Jerusalem) The Netherlands: De Doelen (Rotterdam), Muziek Centrum (Enschede), Rasa (Utrecht), Tropeninistitiut (Amsterdam). Switzerland: Cultural Centre (Basel), Rote Fabrik (Zürich) Turkey: Ankara: Turkish American Association. Istanbul: Ataturk Cultural Center (AKM), Austrian Cultural Center, Bosphorus University, Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall (CRR) "500. Anniversary of Jewish Migration to Ottoman Empire", Cekirdek Sanat Evi, Enka Foundation, Forum, Goztepe Kultur Dernegi, Kadikoy Halk Egitim Merkezi, Sabanci Center. Izmir: French Cultural Center FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS: *Guest of Honour 2008: Turkey, Frankfurt Book Fair Glimpses of the Jewish Culture in Turkey exhibition opening concert, Stadtwerke Saal (Frankfurt, Germany) *International Oud Festival (Closing Concert), Henry Crown Hall - Jerusalem Theater (Jerusalem, Israel) *Anatolian Festival (Enschede/Holland) *15. Enka Foundation Cultural Activities (Istanbul/Turkey) *Europäische Jiddisch Festival, Stadthalle (Leverkusen/Germany) *Festival Sepharad, WDR, Grosser Sendesaal (Cologne/Germany) |
