A Cultural Musical Journey of Andalusia, Spain
May 31 – June 11, 2010

with

Yuval Ron and Members of His Ensemble

Photographs and Commentary by Debra Jan Bibel

   Music: Lo Yira [Tree of Life / Yuval Ron Ensemble / Magda: 3 min excerpt] 

Prologue

I was a member of the touring group who accompanied the musicians. I participated because of a lifelong passion with music, be it classical, jazz, rock, blues, and especially world (both traditional and popular).  My broad amateur ethnomusicological studies have spanned Central and East Asian, African, Native American, and east Mediterranean cultures and focused on music as a spiritual vehicle within the main traditional religions, chiefly Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sufism of Islam.  Spain had a personal draw, since according to paternal family records and lore, before eventually settling in Poland via Holland, my family dwelled in Gerona, in Catalonia, Spain, which during the Middle Ages was the seat of the Kabbalah.  Surely, my ancestors must have resided first in Andalusia and migrated north to more hospitable cities, free from war and strife. Of a family of Jewish Kohens and, until recently, a long line of rabbis, I am scholar, scientist, but also mystic, indeed, a practicing Korean Zen Buddhist. Already familiar with flamenco from both readings and concerts and with the history of Moorish Spain, what enticed me to join this journey was the opportunity to be the 'fly on the wall' as these Middle Eastern musicians  interact with gypsy flamenco artists, share their respective musical forms, and find common ground.  All of this coalesced one evening in a brief aesthetic-induced transpersonal experience in Jerez. Olé!

Organization and Viewing / Copying/ Saving/ Sending/ Printing

Clicking each tour day will lead to a web page containing thumbnail images and commentary of that day. Clicking on the small photographs will cause an enlargement of the image to appear. I have sized them to 7 inches wide or high.  In order to copy, 'save as', email, or print these images for your own use, right-click your mouse and choose from the pop-up menu.