Over the past seven years, The Piyut Ensemble has been formulating its unique
choral style, drawing inspiration from the North African and Middle Eastern
traditions of liturgical poetry, synagogue melodies, and a free-ranging search
through the world’s music. For the past two years, since
comorade/philosopher/singer Yosef Abehsira became a member of the Ensemble, we
found ourselves diving deep down into the very source of the liturgical poetry
of the Abehsira dynasty of rabbis, learning the mystical poems of the Tafilalet
region of southern Morocco, with their special musical tradition. Gradually, the
members of the Piyyut Ensemble have created their own original, fresh
interpretation, based on a vibrant circle of multiple voices and a rhythmical,
festive and intense clapping.
The Piyut Ensemble has performed at the Jerusalem Sacred Music Festival
(2014) and several other piyyut festivals; with the New Jerusalem Orchestra and
with Berry Sakharof in the Ahavat Olamim and Maqam Jerusalem programs. The
Ensemble is currently completing recordings for their debut album, Four
Letters/Arba’ Otiot.
