Abstract
Interfaith concert created by David Jordan Harris, Nirmala Rajasekar, and Maryam Yusefzadeh
Commissioned by the Jay Phillips Center, Embracing the Beloved was a concert of music from the Sephardic (Judeo-Spanish), Carnatic (South Indian), and Persian cultural traditions. Co-creators David Jordan Harris, Nirmala Rajasekar, and Maryam Yusefzadeh explored shared human values and spiritual aspirations reflected in the three distinctive musical traditions. Each lead artist performed with a musical ensemble specializing in the music of their tradition—Voices of Sepharad (Sephardic), Roboyat (Persian), and a group of nationally recognized artists working in the Carnatic tradition. The musicians also performed together new compositions emerging from the underlying themes of Embracing the Beloved.
Sponsored by the Jay Phillips Center in collaboration with the Hindu Temple of Minnesota