Yamma Ensemble

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Yamma Ensemble

Ensemble Yamma, Israel’s leading delicate world music ensemble presents original contemporary Hebrew music. The group members stay true to the character of the Middle East, the region where they were born and raised. The soulful, exotic music is accompanied by ancient musical instruments (kopuz, duduk, hand drums) which are typical of the Middle East.

In addition to this unique art, Yamma also performs the traditional music and material of the various Jewish diasporas. Songs of the Jewish communities from Yemen, Babylon, and Sepharad, as well as Hasidic music, with the fascinating forms and rhythms that have been preserved by generations of Jewish traditions. Thousands of followers and more than million views at their youtube official channel draw high interest of festivals programmers and directors from all over the world.

Background information From https://yammaensemble.com

Yamma means in Hebrew toward the sea in Arabic it means mother. Yamma members got together in 2010. Over the years they have become the most successful and leading Israeli group for Hebrew & Jewish music among international audiences.

Mediterranean | Middle Eastern | Jewish

So what is the secret of Yamma that catches so easily the ear of thousands of listeners all over the globe? The music is rare, esoteric, niche and played with ancient instruments (duduk, ney, kopuz, oud, shofar) and creates the feeling of ancient times, strong sense of spiritual heritage & tradition although the materials are sometimes original and contemporary.

The sound, the performance, the selection of the materials and the moving arrangements took this music far beyond any expectation of the ensemble members. Without special plans, the ensemble became global and international, yet managed to remain authentic, local and loyal to the region in which it developed and was born.

Main focus | The magical Hebrew language

Hebrew language receives a place of honor in all its layers and periods. It’s the only living Canaanite language left and the only truly successful example of a revived dead language. It survived 3000 years into the medieval period as the language of Jewish liturgy, rabbinic literature intra- Jewish commerce, and poetry.

In the 19th century, it was revived as a spoken and literary language. It is alive and kicking even in the twenty-first century. In addition to this unique art and Hebrew focusing, Yamma also performs the traditional music and hidden materials of the various Jewish diasporas.

Songs of the Jewish communities from Yemen, Babylon, and Sepharad, as well as Hasidic music with the fascinating forms and rhythms that have been preserved by generations of Jewish traditions.

Yamma Ensemble

Yamma’s music is rare, esoteric, niche and played with ancient instruments (duduk, ney, kopuz, oud, shofar). it creates the feeling of ancient times, strong sense of spiritualism, heritage & tradition although the materials are sometimes original and contemporary. The sound, the performance, the selection of the materials and the moving arrangements took this music far beyond any expectation of the ensemble members. Without special plans, the ensemble became global and international, yet managed to remain authentic, local and loyal to the region in which it developed and was born.

Aviv Bahar