ROMANCES

“Romances – Between the East and the West” is a concert exploring the musical and poetic connections between Eastern and Western traditions. It combines medieval Spanish, Arabic, and other Mediterranean influences, creating a dialogue across centuries and cultures. The guiding theme, reflected in the program quote, is desire not for places but for experiences and illumination.

ROMANCES

Between the East and the West

“He saw the lightning in the east and longed for the east,

but if it had flashed in the west he would have longed for the west.

My desire is for the lightning and its gleam, not for the places and the earth.”

1. Mawwall “Ra’aa Al Barq” – Da pacem, Domine

Lyrics: Ibn Arabi (1165-1240)

Egyptian tradition – Gregorian chant 

2. La Spagna

Anonymous (XV century) 

3. Di, perra mora

Pedro Guerrero (XVI century)

4. Jácara & Buelría

Fahmi Alqhai & Dani de Morón 

5. Romance of the loss of Alhama: Paseávase el rey moro/Rouh al Sharq

(Lyrics: Ossama Saqdaoui)

Luis de Narváez (ca. 1500 – ca. 1555) – Fahmi Alqhai 

6. Qué es de ti desconsolado/ Awa Tadhkurou (Lyrics: Salamony Ahmed)

Juan del Encina (1468 – ca. 1529) 

7. Buzurg, Al’anbia’ [The prophets] – Pasacalle

Ghalia Benali & Kiya Tabassian & Fahmi Alqhai

8. Emsk Dumuak [Hold your tears]

(Lyrics: Ossama Saqdaoui)

Ghalia Benali & Fahmi Alqhai

9. Din Alhob – Da Pacem, Domine

All arrangements by Fahmi Alqhai & Ghalia Benali

Fahmi Alqhai, viola da gamba and musical direction

Ghalia Benali, singer

Quiteria Muñoz, soprano

Dani de Morón, flamenco guitar

Kiya Tabassian, setar

Rami Alqhai, viola da gamba

Johanna Rose, viola da gamba

Javier Núñez, positive organ

Agustín Diassera, percussion