VISUAL ARTS + MUSEUMS

The Rothko Chapel in collaboration with the Jewish Community Center of Houston present Music of a Distant Drum:  Smadar Levi, Wednesday, November 10 2010, 7:00pm.

Smadar Levi (pictured, image by Masanda A. Boyd) is an award-winning performer whose "Seeds of Peace” seeks to unite cultures through music. Smadar has recently performed in Russia, in Morocco at the Fez Music Festival, at the Sephardic Music Festival in New York, and the Daniel Pearl Music Days Commemoration in San Francisco.

Smadar's new project is based on a book of poetry by Bernard Lewis, Music of a Distant Drum. The book is a collection of previously unpublished poetry of both Jews and Muslims and provides a fascinating and unusual glimpse into Middle Eastern history. It represents the three major languages of medieval Islam—Arabic, Turkish, and Persian, with the remainder in Hebrew. The poetry ranges from the 7th to the 18th centuries and from panegyric and satire to religion, women, and love.

This project of poetry and original music by Smadar Levi is composed and presented along with discussion that links the Judeo-Christian-Muslim cultures together.

An exciting new voice emerging from the NYC world music scene, Smadar is an Israeli-Moroccan singer whose craft is best described as pan-Mediterranean music peppered with a gypsy sound. Smadar sings original and creative renditions of traditional tunes in Hebrew, Arabic, and Ladino. The Epoch Times International recently dubbed Smadar "a euphonious and haunting voice" for peace and unity.

Smadar musical and life journey began in Sderot, Israel: A small town adjacent to Gaza, which has produced notable musical talents such as Shlomo Bar, Kobi Oz, and the band Sfataim. It was at home that Smadar was first exposed to the beauty and grandeur of Arabic culture. Some of her earliest memories include dancing to the pulse of the darbuka, and singing in Arabic in front of her family.

After her Army service in Israel, Smadar traveled around the world, picking up sounds and studying with various musicians. In 2000, she began working on her own project in New York City. This project consisted of an all-star international band, which included Israeli, Turkish and Arab musicians. The goal of this project was to create a Mediterranean artistic expression which transcended all national and religious boundaries.

The Rothko Chapel is funded in party by a grant from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance.