Re: A Jewish Odyssey - Consuelo Luz

[Joan Rundo <joarundo...>]

I have Dezeo by Consuelo Luz (a few months ago I posted a message asking if
anyone had any thoughts to share about her because I love the CD!) and in
the liner notes she writes:

It was appropriate that I be introduced to this music in the mountains of
Northern New Mexico at the same time that some of teh local Hispanic
population were becoming awa re of their Jewish heritage, as was I, after
having been raised Catholic in South America and Europe.
...
I feel honored to have been given the gift of this music and the exciting
task of taking it out into the world in a contemporary form, as I learn more
about the mystical traditions of the Sephardim, my ancestral people, who
struggled, hidden, for centuries, to preserve their heritage.



Consuelo Luz has a website: www.consueloluz.com


interestingly enoiugh, the CD I have was made in France and on the cover it
says:
New Mexico
Consuelo Luz - Dezeo
Jewish Music from Spain
and, as far as I can remember, the CD has a different title if you look at
her website.

Joan (in Milan)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Katie Marcus" <kmarcus (at) jccdet(dot)org>
To: "World music from a Jewish slant" <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org>
Sent: Monday, May 05, 2003 9:39 PM
Subject: A Jewish Odyssey


I have a few questions about this cd, I was hoping some people could
help me out...

1) This cd features Conseulo Luz, and Fortuna.  The notes on these
singers describes how both women are extremely interested in Sephardic
music and have released many albums in Ladino.  It mentions that
Conseulo has a Jewish connection on her mother's side, but was raised
Catholic, and it doesn't mention whether or not Fortuna is Jewish or has
Jewish ancestry.  Does anyone know if these singers are in fact Jewish?

2)  Ofra Haza is also featured on this album.  On the liner notes to her
song, it mentions that Yemenite Jewish music relies heavily on the
voice, since "Muslims of the Arabian peninsula largely banned musical
instruments."  I was under the impression that it was a Jewish custom of
Yemen not to use instruments as a mark of mourning for the destruction
of the Temple.  Drums, plates, jewelry,etc, were considered okay since
they were not considered 'real' instruments.  Which is it?  Did Muslims
or Jews ban the instruments, and for what reason?  Or was it a
combination.

Thanks.

Katie Marcus
Program Coordinator
Jewish Life & Learning
Jewish Community Center of Metro Detroit
6600 West Maple Road
West Bloomfield, MI 48322
(248) 432-5470
(248) 432-5552 (FAX)


---------------------- jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org ---------------------+