Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
“Duo Esperanto's recent concert at Jerusalem's Confederation House was a cultural as well as a musical revelation. Kark and Rohana appear to enjoy an almost telepathic relationship…the two always found a common musical and textural language. It wasn't just a matter of superb instrumental skills; there was also a fluidity of touch and exchange that transcended anything even the best music school can impart”. Jerusalem Post - Jerusalem Post
Duo Esperanto's Israel Festival concert was a delightful display of the highest level of musicianship. Guy Kark, who wrote most of the music and played guitar, oud and percussion, is blessed with the rare quality of being able to produce a scintillating performance in a seemingly effortless fashion. In oud player Nizar Rohana, he has the perfect stable mate.
On the opening number, "Souf," the two interwove water-tight harmonies and intricate melodies with consummate practiced ease. The crisp timbre of Kark's guitar blended naturally and snugly with the darker, earthier textures of the oud. Rohana's solo on "Local Mythology" epitomized what the duo is all about. His spot started out at a fairly pedestrian pace but gradually insinuated itself by almost imperceptible energy increments until he and Kark let loose with a breakneck attack on the theme.
- Jerusalem Post
Duo Esperanto pick and choose from the incredibly diverse Jewish and Arab traditions and deliver melodies on oud and guitar. - New York Public Radio
"Naturally Duo Esperanto has received the greatest honor in the Netherlands. In summer 2002 they had a successful performances in the “Grachten Festival”. Mainly due to the perfect location - they had played in The Bijble Museum in Amsterdam. The museum management didn’t wait long before calling the duo to another round of concert, this time to mark the museum 150 anniversary, and even queen Biatrix herself had the pleasure of listening to this exciting concert". - Israel World Music
Discography
Discography: Duo Esperanto - ‘Strings of Hope’, Sufa Personal World 2004. featured by the BBC, ABC Australia, WNYC (New York public radio) and IBA. I Guy Kark and Between Times – Canaan, Sufa - Mci 1999 - chosen by ‘Global Village’ - KPFK radio Los Angeles and by ‘The Planet’ – National Radio Australia as one of the best world music CD’s for 1999 I Guy Kark and Between Times, Sufa - Hed Artzi 1995.
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
“Duo Esperanto's recent concert at Jerusalem's Confederation House was a cultural as well as a musical revelation. Kark and Rohana appear to enjoy an almost telepathic relationship…the two always found a common musical and textural language. It wasn't just a matter of superb instrumental skills; there was also a fluidity of touch and exchange that transcended anything even the best music school can impart”. Jerusalem Post
Duo Esperanto joins together two exceptional musicians to form a unique Mediterranean/Jewish - Arab musical experience. Inspired by the unusual musical diversity of both traditions, Esperanto’s music reflects a distinct texture, color and sound, yet at the same time clearly emanating from the Mediterranean. 'Desert loops', 'My first Klezmer', 'Ave Maria' from the Maronian church in Lebanon, a Palestinian wedding song and 'Tzur' from the Sephardi tradition are part of the Duo's rich tapestry.
Special Concerts: Grachtenfestival – Amsterdam, Grachtenfestival aan de Mass –Thorn, A special performance for the Queen of the Netherlands in Amsterdam's Biblical museum 150th anniversary, Festival of the Three Cultures (Tres Culturas) – Murcia/Spain, 5th meeting of Mediterranean cultures – Almeria/Spain, concerts in Biblioteca Joanina – Coimbra University/ Portugal, Crested Butte Festival – Colorado, The Ud Festival – Jerusalem, Islam Museum – Jerusalem, Abu Gosh Festival, The Israel Festival 2005. As part of Kark's Between Times ensemble- concerts in 'Eastern voices festival' - Samarkand, Harare international festival of arts - Zimbzbwe, CBGB –New York, skirball-Los Angeles, Ten vrede peace festival - Belguim, Cantigas do maio -Lisbon, Santiago de Compostela, Gamle Logen - Oslo and the black diamond – Copenhagen. News: Kark and Rohana recently took part in the French documentary film 'Middle Eastern Blues'. music composed by Guy Kark from the duo's latest CD (along with music played by Daniel Barenboim), is featured on a new Japanese Documentary film 'Out of Place' (director Makoto Sato), about the Palestinian philosopher Edward Said, lives of Palestinians, Israelis and hope for peace.
Guy Kark - Jerusalem born composer and multi-instrumentalist. Kark has developed, through the years, a unique, personal style of composition and improvisation, creating his own original source of ‘modern folk songs’, as well as a new approach to playing various Middle-Eastern and western stringed instruments. Kark has founded various cross-cultural ensembles and projects (The Between Times Ensemble, Esperanto, Adama Tova), bringing together musical traditions both from East and West, joining both Jewish and Arab musicians. Studied composition and graduate of the Rubin Academy, Jerusalem, in the department of classical Arab music. Among his works are compositions for theater, dance, art, multimedia, films and TV. Kark has been performing extensively worldwide (USA, Europe, Africa and Asia).
Nizar Rohana - oud, Born in the village of Osafia (Carmel mountain). began the study and the practice of the oud at the age of fifteen. He is currently the director of the Edward Said academy of music in Jerusalem. Nizar is a staff member of the Israeli Mediterranean music forum. He plays in various Arab music ensembles in Palestine and Israel, as well as in cross-culture musical projects., such as B.T.E Ensemble, Nizar Rohana Group, Esperanto and others. Nizar has performed worldwide together with duo Esperanto and other ensembles. Graduate of the Rubin Academy, Jerusalem, the Department of Classical Arab Music, and the Musicology Department of the Hebrew university where he is completing his Masters on the Takasim and the great oud masters.
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