Reviews - Romances Sefardies/Francoise Atlan

Renaissance Man Review

Artist:   Francoise Atlan
Album:    Sephardic Songs: Romances Sefardies
Date of
Release: 1995/09/01, 1996/03/19
Label:    Buda - Musique Du Monde
Cat. No.: Buda Musique 92529
ASIN:     B000001N7G
Country:
Genre/s: World|Jewish
Sub-
Genre/s: Ladino, Sephardic, Contemporary
Type:     Studio
Time:     59:00
Date of
Review:   2003/04/16
Web site:

Purchasing Info!

Francoise Atlan - Sephardic Songs: Romances Sefardies
Francoise Atlan's "Sephardic Songs: Romances Sefardies" was released in 1995 and re-issued in 1996 on the Buda - Musique Du Monde label, and was the first instalment of a three disc series of Ladino (or Judeo-Spanish) song by Francoise Atlan. (Reviews of the other two volumes will follow shortly.)
Francoise Atlan is one of Morocco's leading singers not only of Sephardic but also Arabic song and enjoys huge popularity among both Jewish and Muslim communities. Ms. Atlan is gifted with a most outstanding voice, sweet but not overly so, at once firm and strong and delicate, and endowed with a great spiritual quality. This lady could sing gangsta rap and make it sound good!
On "Sephardic Songs: Romances Sefardies", Francoise Atlan puts her vocal gifts to fine use to present a collection of Ladino kantigas and romancas. Now, some Ladino song afficionados, especially those not familiar with this singer, might somewhat hesitate at seeing a guitar credit on this album. Don't be misled by this, there isn't a hint of "flamenco" guitar anywhere. Think of it substituting for an 'ud (Arabic, "lute"), where it is used. Some of the other instrumentation might also be considered somewhat "unconventional" in the context of Ladino song, but far from being detracting, it is used with utmost sensitivity. More often, the instrumentation is very conventional, consisting of only frame drum or ney (Middle Eastern reed flute) by way of example. The arrangements on "Sephardic Songs: Romances Sefardies" often have a contemporary touch to them, but they are most tasteful and sensitive, beautiful and elegant, subtle, even understated. In her own distinct way, Francoise Atlan breathes new life into these ancient kantigas and romancas. These songs come straight from the heart, and a deep spirituality pervades. This is music for the heart and soul, as well as the ear. It goes straight to your innermost being, sending tingles up and down your spine. Its beauty is as that of a delicate flower bathed in dew and the early morning sunshine, its delicate scent carried on the cool refreshing morning breeze, reawakening long-lost memories, gently rousing some indefinable nostalgia.
A throughly consistent album, there isn't a weak track in sight on "Sephardic Songs: Romances Sefardies". Together with its two companion volumes, it should be considered essential in any Ladino/Sephardic collection, and even on its own Francoise Atlan's "Sephardic Songs: Romances Sefardies" makes for an invaluable addition in any such collection. Of course, as always, great music such as this is universal and thus has a place in any comprehensive collection. I certainly wouldn't be without it.

© 2003 Renaissance Man/Rainlore. All rights reserved.

Track List:
1. Una Matica De Ruda - 2:12
2. A La Una Yo Naci - 2:30
3. Tres Hermanicas Eran - 1:37
4. Sol La Saddika - 3:53
5. Cuando Veyo Hija Hermoza - 1:08
6. Durme, Durme Mi Angelico - 2:31
7. Asentada En Mi Ventana - 1:18
8. Esta Montana D'enfrente - 2:59
9. Como La Rosa En La Guerta - 3:09
10. Avre Este Abajour - 1:45
11. Avre Tu Puerta Carrada - 1:21
12. Entre Las Huertas Paseando - 2:41
13. Mama Mia - 3:51
14. Para Que Quero Yo Mas Vivir - 3:15
15. Adijo Kerida - 2:27
16. Por Que Llorax Blanca Nina - 1:52
17. Yo M'enamori D'un Aire - 1:43
18. Mama Yo No Tengo Visto - 1:53
19. Morenica A Mi Me Llaman - 4:01
20. Mi Pudra Lleva Mi Color - 3:11
21. Yo Era Nina - 2:35
22. Cuando El Rey Nimrod - 2:35
23. Arvolicos D'almendra - 2:31
24. Dos Amantes Tengo Mama - 2:02

Credits:
Francoise Atlan - vocals
Pierre Bonnet - guitar
Juan Carmona - vocals

PURCHASING INFO:
Sephardic Songs: Romances Sefardies can be purchased:
From Jewish Music Distribution UK
From Hatikvah Music International (US)
From most general CD stores and online sources such as Amazon etc.

All images used on review pages and artists pages kindly supplied by the artists and/or their record companies, unless otherwise stated. All such images are copyright their respective owners, and all such copyrights and/or other intellectual rights hereby acknowledged.

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	`Artist: Francoise Atlan` `Album: Sephardic Songs: Romances Sefardies` `Date of` `Release: 1995/09/01, 1996/03/19` `Label: Buda - Musique Du Monde` `Cat. No.: Buda Musique 92529` `ASIN: B000001N7G` `Country:` `Genre/s: World\|Jewish` `Sub-` `Genre/s: Ladino, Sephardic, Contemporary` `Type: Studio` `Time: 59:00` `Date of` `Review: 2003/04/16` `Web site:` `Purchasing Info!`
	Francoise Atlan - Sephardic Songs: Romances Sefardies Francoise Atlan's "Sephardic Songs: Romances Sefardies" was released in 1995 and re-issued in 1996 on the Buda - Musique Du Monde label, and was the first instalment of a three disc series of Ladino (or Judeo-Spanish) song by Francoise Atlan. (Reviews of the other two volumes will follow shortly.) Francoise Atlan is one of Morocco's leading singers not only of Sephardic but also Arabic song and enjoys huge popularity among both Jewish and Muslim communities. Ms. Atlan is gifted with a most outstanding voice, sweet but not overly so, at once firm and strong and delicate, and endowed with a great spiritual quality. This lady could sing gangsta rap and make it sound good! On "Sephardic Songs: Romances Sefardies", Francoise Atlan puts her vocal gifts to fine use to present a collection of Ladino kantigas and romancas. Now, some Ladino song afficionados, especially those not familiar with this singer, might somewhat hesitate at seeing a guitar credit on this album. Don't be misled by this, there isn't a hint of "flamenco" guitar anywhere. Think of it substituting for an 'ud (Arabic, "lute"), where it is used. Some of the other instrumentation might also be considered somewhat "unconventional" in the context of Ladino song, but far from being detracting, it is used with utmost sensitivity. More often, the instrumentation is very conventional, consisting of only frame drum or ney (Middle Eastern reed flute) by way of example. The arrangements on "Sephardic Songs: Romances Sefardies" often have a contemporary touch to them, but they are most tasteful and sensitive, beautiful and elegant, subtle, even understated. In her own distinct way, Francoise Atlan breathes new life into these ancient kantigas and romancas. These songs come straight from the heart, and a deep spirituality pervades. This is music for the heart and soul, as well as the ear. It goes straight to your innermost being, sending tingles up and down your spine. Its beauty is as that of a delicate flower bathed in dew and the early morning sunshine, its delicate scent carried on the cool refreshing morning breeze, reawakening long-lost memories, gently rousing some indefinable nostalgia. A throughly consistent album, there isn't a weak track in sight on "Sephardic Songs: Romances Sefardies". Together with its two companion volumes, it should be considered essential in any Ladino/Sephardic collection, and even on its own Francoise Atlan's "Sephardic Songs: Romances Sefardies" makes for an invaluable addition in any such collection. Of course, as always, great music such as this is universal and thus has a place in any comprehensive collection. I certainly wouldn't be without it. © 2003 Renaissance Man/Rainlore. All rights reserved.
	Track List: `1. Una Matica De Ruda - 2:12` `2. A La Una Yo Naci - 2:30` `3. Tres Hermanicas Eran - 1:37` `4. Sol La Saddika - 3:53` `5. Cuando Veyo Hija Hermoza - 1:08` `6. Durme, Durme Mi Angelico - 2:31` `7. Asentada En Mi Ventana - 1:18` `8. Esta Montana D'enfrente - 2:59` `9. Como La Rosa En La Guerta - 3:09` `10. Avre Este Abajour - 1:45` `11. Avre Tu Puerta Carrada - 1:21` `12. Entre Las Huertas Paseando - 2:41` `13. Mama Mia - 3:51` `14. Para Que Quero Yo Mas Vivir - 3:15` `15. Adijo Kerida - 2:27` `16. Por Que Llorax Blanca Nina - 1:52` `17. Yo M'enamori D'un Aire - 1:43` `18. Mama Yo No Tengo Visto - 1:53` `19. Morenica A Mi Me Llaman - 4:01` `20. Mi Pudra Lleva Mi Color - 3:11` `21. Yo Era Nina - 2:35` `22. Cuando El Rey Nimrod - 2:35` `23. Arvolicos D'almendra - 2:31` `24. Dos Amantes Tengo Mama - 2:02`
	Credits: `Francoise Atlan - vocals` `Pierre Bonnet - guitar` `Juan Carmona - vocals`
	PURCHASING INFO: Sephardic Songs: Romances Sefardies can be purchased: From Jewish Music Distribution UK From Hatikvah Music International (US) From most general CD stores and online sources such as Amazon etc.
	All images used on review pages and artists pages kindly supplied by the artists and/or their record companies, unless otherwise stated. All such images are copyright their respective owners, and all such copyrights and/or other intellectual rights hereby acknowledged.