St George’s Church is delighted to present a Concert of Sephardic and Mediterranean music, by Grupo Mardanis. Performing at the concert will be Daniel Martinez-Martin (guitar, bouzouki), Alba Bermejo (voice), and Javier Claros (saxophone, flute, santoor).
Sephardic music has its roots in the musical traditions of the Jewish communities in medieval Spain and Portugal. Since then, it has picked up influences from places where Spanish and Portuguese Jews settled after their expulsion from Spain (1492) and Portugal (1496), eg Morocco, Greece, Bulgaria.
In many cases, the lyrics were preserved, and lived on in communities of expelled Jews, but with the passage of time, a lot of the original melodies have been lost and Sephardic music has instead adopted the melodies and rhythms of the various countries where the Sephardim settled.
Sephardic music is primarily vocal. Instruments, when they are used, are played to accompany songs, and they tend to reflect the instruments more commonly used in the host culture and to adapt to current norms. At a modern Sephardic wedding today, one will definitely not find medieval instruments, but will more likely hear a saxophone or electronic keyboard.
The concert, which will be held at St George’s Church in the English Cemetery, starts at 8pm and refreshments will be available from 7.30pm.
Tickets €15. Book your ticket here. See more of our concert programme here.
