MEDITERRANEAN JEWISH MUSIC

WAVES OF SONG: THE JEWISH SPIRIT IN MEDITERRANEAN MUSIC

Join a musical journey through the Jewish sounds of the Mediterranean. This course explores how Jewish musicians and communities across Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Morocco, Spain and beyond shaped and were shaped by their cultural surroundings. Through listening, discussion, and live performances, participants will experience the vibrant Jewish spirit that echoes through centuries of coexistence, creativity, and exchange in the Mediterranean world.

By the end of the course, participants will have gained a broader understanding of Jewish musical heritage within Mediterranean cultures. You will recognize key figures, genres, and stylistic influences that shaped Jewish and local music traditions. You will also appreciate the power of music as a medium of dialogue and cultural continuity and experience firsthand the living sounds that tell the story of the Jewish Mediterranean journey. 

Course structure

The course consists of the following parts:

• Lectures exploring historical and cultural contexts
• Slides and visual presentations of musicians and archival materials
• Video screenings illustrating regional influences and performance styles
• Listening sessions featuring both recorded and live performances (some played in class by the teacher, Yinon)
• Open discussions encouraging reflection on the material and personal impressions

Prior knowledge

The course is given in English.

No prior knowledge about the subject is needed. 

Course material

All course material is included in the cost for this course. 

About the teacher 

Yinon Muallem is a composer and multi-instrumentalist of Iraqi-Jewish origin, specializing in Ethnic Mediterranean and world music. His work fuses traditional sounds with jazz, classical, and contemporary styles. To date, he has released 12 albums.

Yinon plays the Oud (Arabic lute) and various string instruments, as well as a range of hand percussion instruments from different musical traditions, including Darbuka, frame drums, Spanish Cajón, bongos, and more. Over the years, he has led and participated in numerous intercultural music projects, fostering creative collaboration between musicians from diverse backgrounds. He has given masterclasses and workshops at institutions such as the Royal Academy of Music, Stockholm (2023) and Sibelius Academy, Helsinki (2022).

Photo: Tamburi/Tanburi İsak Efendi (1745-1814) From the Encyclopedia of Jews in the Islamic World (collage by Paideia).