Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru
Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru Played By Maya Dunietz And String Ensemble, Live In Paris
Audio
LP
SKU: LTNC029LP
- Latency
- June 27, 2025
- Original
- New
- Black
Latency presents the first-ever arrangements of iconic Ethiopian composer
Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru’s music for piano and strings, honoring her desire
to broaden the interpretation of her work beyond the piano. Led by pianist,
composer, and Emahoy’s close friend Maya Dunietz, a nine-piece string
ensemble performed her compositions during two tribute concerts at the
Bourse de Commerce in Paris, in April 2024. This album celebrates the centenary
of Emahoy’s birth and commemorates the first anniversary of her passing.
The album marks the culmination of a journey that began nearly two decades
ago, in 2005. While browsing a London record store, pianist and composer Maya
Dunietz and conductor Ilan Volkov discovered a CD by Emahoy Tsege Mariam
Gebru, released as part of the acclaimed ‘Éthiopiques’ series. Intrigued, they
sought out the esteemed musician, eventually locating her in a small monastery
in Jerusalem. Their initial meeting blossomed into a deep, lengthy conversation.
Emahoy recounted her life in the monastery and the challenges of making music
in that setting. They delved into her music, discussing it in great detail. When they
asked Emahoy about notation, she invited them to read her notebook, which
contained compositions written that very morning. Maya and Ilan played some on
the piano. At that moment, Emahoy began to trust them. Before leaving, Maya
wrote her phone number in Emahoy’s notebook and invited her to call if she ever
wanted or needed anything.
A few years later, the call came: Emahoy invited Maya to the monastery, handing
her a couple of wrinkled old Air Ethiopia plastic bags filled with hundreds of her
composition manuscripts. She asked Maya to help create a book of her piano
compositions, making them accessible to people around the world. Faced with
such a monumental undertaking, Maya partnered with the
Jerusalem Season of Culture to embark on this ambitious project. This
collaboration resulted in the publication of a book of sheet music and a collection
of essays in 2013, as well as numerous concerts performed worldwide. These
concerts, along with Maya’s work on Emahoy’s music,
grew from a deep bond of love and mutual respect between the two women.
During one of their many meetings, Emahoy mentioned her dream of arranging
her songs for orchestral instruments. She remarked that it was too late for her,
but, with her trademark smile and a wink, suggested: «Maybe you could do it?»
For Maya, this tremendous compliment became the catalyst for all the string
arrangements she would create for Emahoy’s beautiful music—arrangements
now collected in this album after years of collaboration and discussions between
Maya and the record label Latency. This album celebrates the centenary of
Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru’s birth and commemorates the first anniversary of
her passing. All compositions were recorded during two tribute performances at
the Bourse de Commerce in Paris, held in April 2024 in her memory.
Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru’s music for piano and strings, honoring her desire
to broaden the interpretation of her work beyond the piano. Led by pianist,
composer, and Emahoy’s close friend Maya Dunietz, a nine-piece string
ensemble performed her compositions during two tribute concerts at the
Bourse de Commerce in Paris, in April 2024. This album celebrates the centenary
of Emahoy’s birth and commemorates the first anniversary of her passing.
The album marks the culmination of a journey that began nearly two decades
ago, in 2005. While browsing a London record store, pianist and composer Maya
Dunietz and conductor Ilan Volkov discovered a CD by Emahoy Tsege Mariam
Gebru, released as part of the acclaimed ‘Éthiopiques’ series. Intrigued, they
sought out the esteemed musician, eventually locating her in a small monastery
in Jerusalem. Their initial meeting blossomed into a deep, lengthy conversation.
Emahoy recounted her life in the monastery and the challenges of making music
in that setting. They delved into her music, discussing it in great detail. When they
asked Emahoy about notation, she invited them to read her notebook, which
contained compositions written that very morning. Maya and Ilan played some on
the piano. At that moment, Emahoy began to trust them. Before leaving, Maya
wrote her phone number in Emahoy’s notebook and invited her to call if she ever
wanted or needed anything.
A few years later, the call came: Emahoy invited Maya to the monastery, handing
her a couple of wrinkled old Air Ethiopia plastic bags filled with hundreds of her
composition manuscripts. She asked Maya to help create a book of her piano
compositions, making them accessible to people around the world. Faced with
such a monumental undertaking, Maya partnered with the
Jerusalem Season of Culture to embark on this ambitious project. This
collaboration resulted in the publication of a book of sheet music and a collection
of essays in 2013, as well as numerous concerts performed worldwide. These
concerts, along with Maya’s work on Emahoy’s music,
grew from a deep bond of love and mutual respect between the two women.
During one of their many meetings, Emahoy mentioned her dream of arranging
her songs for orchestral instruments. She remarked that it was too late for her,
but, with her trademark smile and a wink, suggested: «Maybe you could do it?»
For Maya, this tremendous compliment became the catalyst for all the string
arrangements she would create for Emahoy’s beautiful music—arrangements
now collected in this album after years of collaboration and discussions between
Maya and the record label Latency. This album celebrates the centenary of
Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru’s birth and commemorates the first anniversary of
her passing. All compositions were recorded during two tribute performances at
the Bourse de Commerce in Paris, held in April 2024 in her memory.
A1. Ballad of the Spirits
A2. Presentiment
A3. Evening Breeze
A4. The Garden of Gethesemanie
B1. Spring Ode
B2. Golgotha
B3. The Homeless Wanderer
A2. Presentiment
A3. Evening Breeze
A4. The Garden of Gethesemanie
B1. Spring Ode
B2. Golgotha
B3. The Homeless Wanderer
