Songs of Sefarad – Ladino from the Jews of Spain
Orit Perlman, singer and cantorial soloist, offers a panorama of the ladino song. A rich Mediterranean tapestry woven by Kantigas, songs of ritual, Romancero, ballads and Coplas, drawn from biblical sources, from North Africa to the Balkan. Perlman, a classically trained mezzo, recreates by listening to field recordings, embodying the memories and life experiences of the many grandmothers who shared their songs. Her performance invites the listener to travel in time, inhale roses, haggle over dowries, pine for handsome soldiers gone to war, and join Moses fend off fiery angels on Mount Sinai.
Accompanying Perlman on oud, jumbush, violin and saz, is multi-talented musician and composer Yarden Erez, and on percussion is the creative and international performer Zeev Yaniv.
Perlman connected to the songs of ladino through her ever widening interest in Jewish music as a reflection of spirituality and history. She has been performing Jewish music and serving congregations as leader of prayer and life cycle ceremonies since 1996, integrating new compositions with lesser known ethnic ones of prayer and song.
In 2006, Perlman was “adopted” by renowned ladino musicologist Dr. Susana Weich-Shahak as partner for lecture/performances. Discography includes Ventanas Altas de Saloniki (2013), ladino, double cd, Haifa University; M’ayin Yavo (2011) original Jewish music, Ot Azoi (2010) – Yiddish with a twist of blues, Tfilotai (2008) withHUC Jerusalem. Perlman’s compositions have been anthologized by Transcontinental Music, and Brandeis University Press, printed and performed in three Shalshelet Festivals of New Jewish Music.
What People are Saying:
“Orit Perlman’s performance of ” Ladino from The Balkan to Morocco” in May 2015, with accompanying musicians Yarden Erez on ethnic instruments and Zeev Yaniv on percussion, was professional and moving. The singing was heartfelt and sincere and the audience of over 400 left with a feeling of wanting to hear more. The performance was successful beyond our expectations, In short, Orit Perlman is wonderful!”
Ronit Eshet,
Haifa Municipality, Cultural Coordinator
Of “Shacharit Shabbat”
“Orit Perlman is an accomplished singer and composer. Among her many talents Orit researches thoroughly the music she sings. In other words, she not sings the song, she becomes part of the musical narrative. I have heard Orit’s Ladino renditions and came out mesmerized by her beautiful singing and intense and engaging musical expression. Like her name her singing brings light to all of us.”
Hazzan Dr. Ramón Tasat, Washington D.C.
Founder of Shalshelet, New Jewish Liturgical Music Festival
“Orit is a flexible and engaging singer, whose work with Ladino songs complements her wide involvement with diverse Jewish repertories. Avoiding over-sentimentality, her clean performances lead the modern listener gently into an older musical world, shedding light on songs that justly deserve to be remembered.”
Dr. Abigail Wood, lecturer in ethnomusicology, Music Department, University of Haifa
“I have been following Orit’s path through the Judeo Spanish musical repertoire and I am very pleased with her development. She has become one of the best (probably the best) performer of the main Sephardic song genres: romances, coplas and cantigas, today. She learns this repertoire from authentic recordings (mostly from my own field work), investing time and interest in recreating the original voice-pitch and intonation together with careful pronunciation of the Sephardic dialects. Her accompanying musicians, Yarden Erez and Zeev Yaniv are professional and creative musicians that add to the quality and enjoyment of the performance.”
Dr. Susana Weich-Shahak, Jewish Music Research Center, Hebrew University
“Experiencing Orit Perlman’s engaging style and obvious talent was a highlight of my trip to Israel last summer. The American Conference of Cantors and Guild of Temple Musicians (from the United States) had the pleasure of hearing and seeing Orit sing and play at the Leo Baeck Center in Haifa. This was the week the conflict started in the region and it was a poignant reminder of how fragile our world is. Orit helped us to cope with our deep feelings by expressing herself through her music.”
Dr. Jayson Rodovsky, Music Editor, Transcontinental Music Publications of the Union for Reform Judaism, New York, NY.