Guy Kark

GUY KARK

Background
Jerusalem born composer, arranger, guitar and oud artist.
Reflecting the special texture and colors of Canaan, Guy Kark's music travels constantly between eras, and has been inspired by the unusual local musical diversity, as well as the variety of sounds, songs, and echoes that permeate the Mediterranean atmosphere. Kark has developed, through the years, a unique, personal language of composition and improvisation, creating his own musical landscape.
Along with his ensembles, Kark has performed worldwide (Holland, Belgium, USA, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Italy, France, Zimbabwe, Turkey, Germany, Uzbekistan, Spain, Portugal, The Czech Republic, Serbia, Israel including special concerts for the queen of Holland and the Norwegian prime minister).
Among his works are compositions for films, theater, dance, art exhibitions, TV and multimedia. Kark's music has been featured on radio, TV and cinema internationally. (BBC, N.Y public radio, ABC, IBA etc). His second CD Canaan was chosen as one of the best ‘World Music’ CD’s by ‘The Planet’ -Radio National – Australia and by 'Global Village', KPFK radio-Los Angeles and nominated for the Just Plain Folks award for the best ethnic album
Composer, founder and artistic director of various cross-cultural music ensembles and projects, bringing together traditions both from east and west, some of which join Jewish and Arab musicians.
Among them: The Between Times Ensemble – one of Israel's leading world music groups (known in Hebrew as 'Yemey Habentime'), Duo Esperanto and Celtan. Guy is also a member of the mediaeval music ensemble 'Quynade'. He studied composition and is a graduate of the Rubin Academy of Music, Jerusalem (in the department of classical Arab music under the guidance of Professor Taisir Elias).

Special Performances
Ten Vrede Peace Festival/ Belgium, ‘Gamle Logen’ concert hall in Oslo, The Black Diamond in Copenhagen, the Cantigas do Maio Festival in Lisbon, the Eastern Voices Festival in Samarkand, The Skirball in Los Angeles, the Crested Bute Festival in Colorado, CBGB – N.Y, the Academy of Music in Prague, the Six Days to Live Festival in Harare, Zimbabwe, the Metu Festival in Ankara, the Grachtenfestival in Amsterdam, the Festival of Three Cultures in Spain , the 5th Meeting of Mediterranean Cultures in Almeria, the Bibliotheca Joanina in Coimbra, Portugal, the Hearing the World festival in the Tel Aviv opera house, the Israel Festival in Jerusalem, the Abu Gosh vocal music festival, the Islamic Museum and the Oud Festival in Jerusalem, a series of concerts in Israel with the Kibbutz Chamber Orchestra and the Mediaeval music ensemble Quynade. One of Kark's European tours included a special performance for the Queen of Holland to which he was invited with Duo Esperanto to celebrate the 150 year anniversary of the Biblical Museum. During 2005 Kark and Between Times were invited by the Norwegian Prime Minister to hold a special concert together with leading Norwegian musicians.

Discography
Between Times (1995,Personal world), Canaan (1999, Personal world), Strings of Hope/Duo Esperanto (2004, Personal world), Celtan (2007/2008, Personal world)
Compilations – Mantra for Peace (1995, Hed Artzi), Murcia Tres Culturas (vaso), Roots 2 (Israel Festival),
Israel a world of music (2003)

Music for Cinema, Exhibitions, Dance
'Out of Place' – Director Sato Makoto, A Japanese documentary about Edward Said (soundtrack for film along with music played by Daniel Barenboim), 'Le Blues De L'orient (France /Canada), Contra (Israel), Hagar (Israel), Music for 'Click' - Kolban dance group, music for exhibitions – Somanbulin (Sigalit Landau), exhibition in Amsterdam's Biblical museum, Theater – Weaving , Winnie the pooh (Psik theatre)

Radio, TV : USA – New York public radio; KPFK – Los Angeles, Echoes, Putumayo world music hour; UK– BBC radio 3; Jewishpodshow-London, Australia - National Radio; Italy – Rai 1, France – Radio National, Zimbabwe – National T.V and radio, Spain – TV Santiago de Compostella , Israel – TV: Channel 1, 2, Culture Channel, IBA, Galatz etc..

Press
" With the sparkle of a liturgical poet and the talent of a superb orchestrator, he paints the music…" (Ma'ariv)
" an atmosphere of the mystical charm of a folk legend…" (Ha'aretz)
"… 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” (Jerusalem Post)
"...this very different entity permeates ones heart and excites in a rare way." (Hed Hakrayot).
"Between times happily veers over borders, playing music with Jewish and Arab strains" (Los Angeles Times)