Sephardic music of the Mediterranean region

Ensemble “Plaisirs de Musique” from the Czech Republic:
Eliška Tesařová (voice), Marta Kratochvílová (flutes), Marian Friedl (double bass),
Kamil Slezák (percussion), Jan Čižmář (lute, guitar, theorbo)

The ensemble's arrangements combine the styles of early music, classical music, folk, jazz and world music to create a very unique musical language.
Until 1492, communities of Christians, Jews and Muslims lived peacefully side by side in Spain, influencing and enriching each other culturally. Music in particular reflects the extraordinary richness and beauty of the culture of that time.
After 1492, most of the Spanish Jews, called Sephardim, were expelled and scattered along the Mediterranean coast, where they continued to absorb and influence local cultural traditions.
The Sephardic songs, sung in the Ladino language, are characterized by distinctive melodies that reflect their Spanish roots and the influences of Arabic, Christian and Jewish culture.
The interaction of different cultures was and is a challenge, Sephardic songs give us hope for the present, reminding us that it is possible to enrich each other, despite all differences.

The music is imbued with strong emotion and deals with the existential themes of life, testifying to the deep spirituality of the people of that time and telling of the moving history of the Sephardic people.