monajat

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Galeet Dardashti’s Monajat

Galeet Dardashti’s multi-sensory project and album, Monajat, is inspired by old and haunting recordings of Jewish prayers chanted by her late grandfather, Younes Dardashti, a famous master singer of Persian classical music in 1950s/60s Iran. Galeet reinvents the ancient ritual of Selihot—religious poetry chanted nightly before the Jewish New Year—by singing with remixed samples of her grandfather’s legacy recordings. Riffing off these old tapes, Galeet composes a soundscape of original music performed by an acclaimed ensemble of Middle Eastern and jazz musicians. Dynamic video art created by artist/designer Dmitry Kemell envelopes the audience, bringing the audience into the ritual. This powerful project is both deeply Jewish and deeply Persian at a time of tremendous anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.

Listen to Galeet discuss the album on the WNYC New Sounds podcast here!

"Extraordinary….stunning. From the first moment I was riveted and the power never let up…  It’s one of the best Jewish albums I’ve heard in years.  I can’t stop listening to it.”  
-Yossi Klein HaLevi,  journalist and author

“A fascinating project… an inspired take on a rich archive.”
-The Guardian

“A striking project…that bridges generations and geography…with an all-star cast.” 
-John Schaefer, WNYC, New Sounds

“Haunting…. a soundscape performed by an acclaimed ensemble…. immersed in heavy grooves, sacred Hebrew and Persian poetry”
-The Forward