Track notes for “In a Sea of Stars: Live from the Transylvanian Synagogue Tour”

credits: 

Zoë AQUA: violin, composition 

RÉMAN Gergely: cimbalom

SZOPOS Kálmán: brácsa

DÉNES Károly: bass 

Anna LOWENSTEIN: guest violin (tracks 2, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11)

Sound recording and mixing: UPOR András 

mastering: Don GODWIN

Tracks 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10 recorded June 20, 2024 at the Decebal Street Synagogue in Satu Mare, Romania.

Tracks 1, 6, 7, 9, 11 recorded June 23, 2024 at the Vijnitzer Klaus Synagogue in Sighetu Maramației, Romania.

Heartfelt thanks: 

  • to the Jewish Community of Satu Mare, especially Adrian Beșa.

  • to the Jewish Community of Sighetu Maramației, especially David Liberman and Petru Ganz.

  • to Oana Chiș and Ákos Török for help with translation and logistics

  • to Tranzit House and Hambidge Center for the Creative Arts for creative support 

  • to project underwriter Noah Youngs, plus 80 individual supporters of the Transylvanian Synagogue Tour Project. 

1. Suita Românească

An epic suite of tunes inspired by klezmer and Romanian music. 

1- Goldenshteyn învârtita: inspired by a klezmer tune I learned from Naum Goldenstein which was collected by his uncle, the legendary German Goldenshteyn. 

2- Bapolyer hârțag: inspired by the klezmer tune we know as "Bapolyer (or Bagopolier) freylekhs"

3- Sîrba tinerilor: an original sirba

4- 2am Doina: an original doina 

The sirba and doina were composed in December 2023 at Hambidge Center for the Creative Arts in Georgia, USA. 

2. Khosidl and Hârțag

This is my version of a khosidl, a slow solo dance from the Yiddish tradition. Halfway through the piece, we transition into a propulsive Transylvanian rhythm called “hârțag.” 

Composed December 2023 at Hambidge Center for the Creative Arts in North Georgia, USA. 

3. Schvartz- Royt Fantaziye

Schvartz- Royt Fantaziye is a suite of two pieces I wrote inspired by the style of folk music played in Szék (Sic), Transylvania, combined with influences from klezmer music. I’ve had the good fortune to visit Szék multiple times and meet folk musicians who live there. 

The first piece, "A bányász dala" (Miner's Nign) uses a Széki csárdás rhythm and was recorded on my 2022 album “In Vald Arayn”. The second piece, ”A Kosher Porka,” is a new one I composed using a rhythm called “porka”, which in addition to csárdás is another part of the traditional Széki set of dances. 

The title “Schwartz- Royt Fantaziye” is a Yiddish translation of a poem called “Fekete-piros” (translation: “black-red”-- the colors of traditional clothing from Szék) by Kányádi Sándor, which is about young people from Szék dancing in Cluj in the 60s and 70s. 

4. Betty's Creek Dobriden 

I composed this piece in December 2023 while doing a composition residency at the Hambidge Center for Creative Arts in the Appalachian mountains region of the US. The melody came to me when I was walking through the woods near a small river called Betty’s Creek. 

The rhythm takes inspiration from a triple-time rhythm klezmer musicians call “dobriden,” and also the Transylvanian rhythms known as “purtată” and  “de-a-lungu.” 

Here’s one great example of a Transylvanian de-a-lungu (thanks to Zsombor Bálint for posting this great archival footage of the peerless musicians from Nagysajó/ Șieu).

5. Heaven’s Vault (Lassú) 

This is a tune I composed in December 2023 at the Hambidge Center for the Creative Arts in rural Georgia, USA. It’s inspired by the Transylvanian slow dance form called “lassú” (which literally means “slow” in Hungarian).

While playing this piece, I loved hearing the sound of the loud, vibrant sound of the string band echoing through these large synagogue spaces we played in. I like thinking about the sound knocking the dust off the high rafters, and waking the spirits in the space. 

6. Grodner Gan-Eydn 

This tune was recorded on my 2022 album “In Vald Arayn (Into the Forest).” I wanted to release this more recent live version, because I love the energy Kálmán (brácsa) and Károly (bass) have brought to this piece. 

This tune (composed 2019) was inspired by an early evening summer stroll with friends along the banks of the Neman River in Grodno, Belarus. Walking through the cattails and tall grasses in the golden light, I felt nostalgia for the city’s past— Grodno was over 50% Jewish in the early 20th century— and also the joy of living in this current moment. 

7. Terkisher pentru Efta Botoca

This piece (composed 2021) takes inspiration from a beautiful doina recorded by the great Romanian violinist Efta Botoca. 

The enchanting taxim (improvised solo) in the middle of the piece is by Anna Lowenstein. 

8. Wetland Bătuta

This tune was recorded on my 2022 album “In Vald Arayn” as part of a longer piece called “Wetland Suite.” “Wetland Suite” was originally inspired by a poem by my friend and colleague Moriel Rothman-Zecher.

9. A kukave fun vald (doina)

I originally recorded this piece on my last album “In Vald Arayn” in 2022. I wanted to record it again because this piece has grown and changed since then. It features cimbalom player Réman Gergő. 

The ascending figure at the beginning of this piece was inspired by the beginning of the vocal melody in legendary lăutărească singer Gabi Luncă’s song “Cuculeț de la Pădure” (Cuckoo in the Forest). 

10. Reina’s March/ March for Gyula

I composed these pieces in 2017 and 2018 and recorded them on my last album. This version felt very natural, warm and alive— thanks to Kálmán, Károly, Gergő and Anna for bringing these marches to a new level. 

11. encore: Welcome to the Welcome (bulgars)

This was the encore of our concert in Sighetu Maramației. It’s everything I think an encore should be: off-the-cuff, a bit under-rehearsed, giving the last 2% of the energy we had on that hot day in June back to the audience who had shared so much of their spirit with us. 

credit Fumie Suzuki