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Playlist.
May 6, 2004

ARTIST	SONG/ALBUM	COUNTRY	LABEL	YEAR
Josef Haydn performed by the Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra conducted by Adam Fischer	“Symphony no. 6”	Austria/Hungary	Nimbus	1999
Agha-ye Sadjadigard, Agha-ye Djamshidi, Agha-ye Sahihi	“Bedah-e Avaz/Tasnif-e Kurdi” from “Music of Islam vol. 12 – Music of Iran”	Iran	Celestial Harmonies	1998
Hussayn al Azami & Ensemble Al-Kindi	from “Hamdulillah”	Iraq	Sounds True	1998
Anton Bruckner performed by the Royal Scottish Orchestra conducted by Georg Tintner	“Symphony no. 1 in c minor”	Austria/Scotland	Naxos	2001
Yoel Ben Simhon & Ensemble Sultana	“Yidgal” from “Yoel Ben Simhon & Sultana”	Israel/various	Sultana	2004
Yoel Ben Simhon & Ensemble Sultana	“Eastern Winds” from “Yoel Ben Simhon & Sultana”	Israel/various	Sultana	2004
Interview with Yoel Ben Simhon with guest Henri Hadida
Yoel Ben Simhon & Ensemble Sultana	“Forgiveness Hymns” from “Yoel Ben Simhon & Sultana”	Israel/various	Sultana	2004
Simon Shaheen	“Longa Farahfaza” from “Turath”	Palestine	CMP	1992

Today’s show featured two symphonies, the earliest forays in symphonic form from two of the greatest symphonists, Haydn and Bruckner. The two works are separated by a hundred years and extremely different styles and idea of what a symphony should be. Haydn’s is a tour de force for a small orchestra, written to impress his new employer, Prince Esterhazy, includes many concertante elements and solo parts. It is a short, charming and cheerful work. Bruckner’s is an immense work written for a large orchestra, and its intention is not to charm, but to transfix the listener and take their breath away.

My CKCU colleague Henri Hadida joined me for an interview with Moroccan-Israeli Yoel Ben Simhon. Ben Simhon is an oud player and singer who is writing some very unusual music based on Arabic traditions and sacred Jewish hymns. He is a champion of Arabic-Jewish culture, one with a very long and fruitful history, which is neglected, denied or simply unknown by Jews of European background in these times of high political tensions. His new self-titled cd with his ensemble of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Arabic musicians is only currently available through www.amazon.com and through his website www.sultanamusic.com.