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CD : naïve (2009)

Amar was born in Jerusalem to Moroccan parents in 1953, grew up in Morocco and now lives in France. He has composed for a large number of television documentaries, films and ballets.

The music on this CD was written for a film documentary (DVD currently unavailable), that documented the extraordinary diversity and beauty of our Planet Earth. Most of the 24 selections are quite short, and are a fascinating mix of ‘ethnic’ styles. No track timings are given; the overall timing (also not given) is 66.34. Much of the music is hauntingly beautiful, especially ‘Whales’. Amar shares composer credits with Mathieu Coupart (2 selections), and with Jean-Pascal Beintus who wrote the arrangement of ‘Cum Dederit’ from  Vivaldi’s Nisi Dominus, beautifully sung by Sandrine Piau, the only selection she sings, and also the longest on the CD (5.04). Other singers are Adèle Carlier (France), Gobodorj Byambajargal and Enkhjargal Dandarvaanchig from Mongolia, and Ashkan Kamangari from Iran.

As well as a small ensemble of piano, strings, winds and brass, there are many ‘exotic’ instruments : ney, kamantche, arpegina, charango, ronroco, Turkish clarinet, didgeridoo, duduk, bansouri flutes, octobass and the 10-member Shanghai Percussion Ensemble. An amazing range of sonorities is obtained from these instruments, especially the didgeridoo.

How beautiful the world is when it comes together like this, and how potentially fragile it is if we do not take care of it.

Keith Davies Jones

        Cum dederit dilectis suis somnum:

        ecce haereditas Domini, filii:

        merces, fructus ventris.

        For he has granted to those he loves rest:

        behold an inheritance from the Lord  - sons:

        a reward, the fruit of the womb.

(Psalm 127)