“Monajat” in NY this Saturday 9/08

Galeet Dardashti’s most recent multi-sensory piece, commissioned by the Foundation for Jewish Culture—debuted last September with a six-city national tour.  Monajat is inspired by old and haunting recordings of the Jewish prayers of Selihot chanted by Galeet Dardashti’s grandfather—a master singer of Persian classical music.  Dardashti reinvents the deep and reflective musical ritual of Selihot using digital technology to sing with her famed Iranian grandfather, composing original music to other sacred Jewish and Persian poetry, and performing with an acclaimed ensemble of Middle Eastern and jazz musicians.  Audiences are enveloped into the ritual with Persian melodies, poetic Hebrew texts, electronic soundscapes, and dynamic video art.