المدائن زهرة – Flower of all cities, Fairuz (*1934, Beirut)

There is hardly any other place whose name resonates more, than any other city in the world that stands more for conflicts and wars, that is surrounded by more myths than Jerusalem. Jerusalem is revered by the three monotheistic world religions as the "holy city"; in the name of these religions, people have been committing barbaric atrocities in battle for more than a thousand years.

Abraham's Holy City bears many names whose meaning always contains the same core – city of peace for Jews, Christians and Muslims: Yerushalayim, Orschalim, Jerusalem and in Arabic Al’quds – القدس.

In this programme, SANSTIERCE sings about this city in medieval songs. Many of these songs have only been handed down with lyrics – here the singer Maria Jonas then becomes a trobairitz herself to find the right melodies for the lyrics. She is accompanied by her congenial colleague Bassem Hawar (Djoze), who improvise to the medieval songs and add his own pieces in modal western and eastern style. Very much in the style of Sanstierce: cultivating and reviving the old roots.

Various guests have already extended this programme: e.g. the internationally renowned oud player Saad Mahmood Jawad from Bahrain, or the renowned poet Khaled Shomali, who originates from Palestine.

PROGRAMME

Lami – لامي
Bassem Hawar

O Jerusalem aurea citivitas
Hildegard von Bingen (* 1098; † 1179)
O Jerusalem, golden city, adorned with the purple of the King! O building full of the highest goodness, a light that never goes out! O Jerusalem, your towers shine as clear as gold and shine brightly with the radiance of purple, with the light of the saints, O Jerusalem!

Jherusalem, grant damage me fais
Chanson de femme, Chanson de croisade, Jehan de Nuevile (13th century)
Jerusalem, großes Unrecht du tust mir an, wenn du mir den nimmst, den ich am meisten in der Welt liebe. Und immer wieder seufze ich vor Angst. Wenn ich mich an das süße fröhliche Gesicht erinnere, das ich küsste und streichelte, ist es ein Wunder, dass ich nicht verrückt geworden bin.

Palästinalied
Walther von der Vogelweide (* ca. 1170; † ca. 1230)
Only now do I live worthily, since my sinful eye beholds the pure land and also the earth to which so much reverence is paid. Christians, Jews and pagans* claim that this is their inheritance. God ought to divide it justly, by the three of his names. The whole world is at war here. But our claim is just, and therefore it is right that he should grant it to us. * meaning Muslims

Palestina hermoza y santa
Sephardim (Bulgaria)
Palestine, beautiful and holy, how unhappy you are! Rise up and sing that you alone are our homeland. When I think of the holy land, my body trembles. Your isolation I desire, my soul swells with pain. You are the land of the kind Creator, even if your children are far away from you. But your beauty gives us peace and love in our hearts.

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אני שרה על אומץ לבי – CHANTERAI POR MON COURAGE – سأُغني لكي امنح نفسي الشجاعة

Seigneurs, sachiez
Thibaut de Champagne (13th century)
Gentlemen, know that all who will not go to this land where God died and lived, and all who will not go on the crusade across the sea, will not enter Paradise as I once did. From now on, kill the wicked who do not love God, who do not honour him. Sweet Lady, crowned Queen, pray for us, Blessed Virgin, so that we may harm no one.

Chanterai por mon corage
Chanson de femme, Chanson de croisade (13th century)
I will sing to give me courage, that I may find comfort, for in my great distress I do not want to die or go mad when I see someone coming back from the wild land, wherever he has gone, he who calms my heart when I hear him mentioned. God, when they cry, "Over the sea!", Lord, help the pilgrim for whose sake I tremble, for these traitors are Saracens.

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אני רוצה ללכת, אמא – IR ME KERO, MADRE – اريد ان اذهب يا امي

Emigration – هجرة
Bassem Hawar

Ir me kero, Madre
Sephardim

שיר למלאכים – Angel Song

زهرة المدائن – Flower of all cities
Fairuz (*1934, Beirut)
For You, O city of peace. For You, O city of beautiful mosques, flower of all cities, holy city of prayer – I pray.Our eyes go to You every day, wandering through the corridors of temples, embracing the ancient churches and wiping sadness from the mosques. You, holy night have led to heaven. Our eyes go to You every day and I pray. The child in the cave, his mother Mary, their weeping faces.... and I pray.