We are delighted to host a series of free online film screenings, interviews and concerts from the Iraqi Jewish music scene in association with the Jewish Music Institute, Harif and Sephardi Voices UK. The four-week run includes the talents of Iraqi-Israeli Jewish qanun player and member of La Falfula Groove, David Regev Zaarur, liturgical poet and musician Cantor Moshe Habusha and The Woolf Institute’s Dr Merav Rosenfeld-Hadad, a musicologist who specialises in Arabic and Middle Eastern music. See below for further details about the programme.
To stream the event series live head to the JR Facebook page at 7.30pm on the day of each event; videos will be available to watch for 24 hours after screening.
Thursday 12 August
Remember Baghdad: Iraq’s Last Jews Tell the Story of Their Country
To kicks things off, we have a screening of Fiona Murphy’s captivating documentary Remember Baghdad. Released in 2017, the film follows five Jewish families as they remember a time in Baghdad before war and instability. One of those contributors is Iraqi Jewish businessman Edwin Shuker, who will join us in interview before the screening.
Further reading: Return to Baghdad
Thursday 19 August
La Falfula Groove
Watch the Iraqi maqam group of singers (and one dancer) La Falfula Groove live in concert. Featuring Israeli-Iraqi musician Yair Dalal, who we interviewed in our Jul 2017 issue, and fellow Iraqi-Israeli David Regev Zaarur, a qanun player and grandson of Yusuf Zaarur, who famously played qanun around the same time of the Al-Kuwaiti brothers. Zaarur will also appear in interview.
Further reading: Yair Delal – Sound of the Desert
Thursday 26 August
In conversation: Cantor Moshe Habusha and Dr Merav Rosenfeld-Hadad
Renowned liturgical poet and musician Cantor Moshe Habusha joins musicologist Dr Merav Rosenfeld-Hadad from The Woolf Institute for a discussion about Arabic and Middle Eastern music past and present.
Further reading: The Jewish Contribution to Iraqi Music
Wednesday 1 September
Identity, Music and Heritage
Composer Brian Elias joins ethnomusicologist Dr Sara Manasseh in conversation to discuss their lives, careers and musical influences. Both were born in Bombay (now Mumbai) to Iraqi Jewish families. Hosted by Dr Bea Lewkowicz, director of Sephardi Voices UK, and musicologist Dr Malcolm Miller, who will explore the impact of cultural heritage and identity on musical and creative journeys, illustrated with a selection of traditional and contemporary musical compositions.
Note: This event will be via Zoom. Register at sephardivoices.org.uk.
