The Andalusian Music Ensemble of the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance
Hagai Bilitzky musical direction, oud
Shikma Givan flute
Hanani Zait nai
Sara Neveem Cohen trumpet
Idan Salomon soprano saxophone
Nir Armon alto saxophone
Michael Roessler bassoon
Orian Shukrun piano
Johanna Reitmueller Arab violin
Elik Harpaz viola
Ido Kadosh guitar
Eliran Yosef guitar, vocals
Noam Tabib vocals
Balkis Halabi oud, vocals
Shir Wechsler oud
Sharon Avivi oud
Dror Tubul bass
Avraham Neveem percussion
Nadav Friedman percussion
The Madrasa is an ensemble comprised of 20 outstanding students from all departments of the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, who dedicate themselves to performing North African classical and popular music. One of the aims of this project, directed by Hagai Bilitsky, is to connect new texts in Hebrew with traditional works in a variety of Arabic dialects. Ancient songs in Arabic for the first time receive interpretations faithful to the source, and are performed in both languages, a practice that was common in the Andalusian Golden Age. The special combination of eastern and western musical instruments gives this historic music a new, colorful and rich sound.