Azerbaijan: A Timeless Presence is a breathtaking musical odyssey through a rich artistic and cultural heritage. The music was composed, arranged, and directed by Sami Yusuf for the Opening Ceremony of the 43rd Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Baku on June 30, 2019. The performance was directed by the renowned creative director Andrei Boltenko.

This newly created cultural treasure comprises nine themes; each theme expresses an aspect of the ethos of Azerbaijan from the land’s earliest inhabitants some twenty thousand years ago to its contemporary realities and aspirations.

With fifty-seven highly skilled musicians under his direction, Sami Yusuf displays his mastery of a complex musical language while staying true to the traditional sounds of the region. The instruments used (except the piano) are traditional instruments from the region including the tar, an instrument so significant that it is said to have taken a role in shaping the cultural identity of Azerbaijanis; the kamancha, the stringed instrument related to the Byzantine lyra and European violin family; and the balaban, a double-reed ancient wind instrument with a plaintive, solemn sound.

Azerbaijan: A Timeless Presence mesmerises with its dazzling musical range from the subtle to the powerful and from the evocative to the majestic. It is the soundscape of a region that displays an underlying universality. These inspired compositions by this renowned musician evoke powerful emotional responses in listeners no matter their cultural origin.

• Commissioned by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Download/Stream

Azerbaijan: A Timeless Presence (Live){Samples}

Sami_Yusuf_-_Madad_(Nasimi_Arabic_Version)

Leve Palestina (Long Live Palestine) by a Swedish-Arabic musical group called Kofia, that was based in Göteborg and existed during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They played left-wing music supporting the struggle of the Palestinian people. The group had about ten members that remain unknown. This song is from the album Palestina, mitt land (Palestine, my country).

Lyrics translation:
Long live Palestine and crush Zionism
Long live, long live, long live Palestine
Long live Palestine and crush Zionism
And we have cultivated the earth
And we have harvested the wheat
We have picked the lemons
and pressed the olives
And the whole world knows about our soil
Long live, long live, long live Palestine
Long live Palestine and crush Zionism
And we have thrown rocks at
soldiers and policemen
And we have shot rockets
against our enemies
And the whole world knows about our mission
Long live, long live, long live Palestine
Long live Palestine and crush Zionism
And we will free our country
from Imperialism
And we will build our country up
to Socialism
And the whole world shall witness
Long live, long live, long live Palestine
Long live Palestine and crush Zionism

Long live Palestine (Leve Palestina) -  by Kofia

Sami Yusuf - En al-Ándalus

حصريا : ألبوم سامي يوسف - (‎Songs of the Way, Vol. 1 (2015 

Ze Eshqat

Sami Yusuf - Lament | Live In Concert 2015

Recorded and filmed at the prestigious Dubai Opera on the 16th of December 2016, this concert explores traditions from over one thousand years of the cultural and sacred music of Andalusia, North Africa, Arabia, Khorasan (Greater Persia) and Asia. Sung in multiple languages (including English, Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Punjabi, Azeri), this exhilarating performance by the multi-instrumentalist, composer and renowned singer Sami Yusuf brings together world-class musicians from around the globe to take listeners on a musical journey of discovery.

This concert is a celebration of the sacred, intended to transform the listener with a wealth of spiritual music and poetry. Creative and imaginative, yet rooted in tradition, the sounds evoke at times exuberance and at other times meditative wonder. The hearts of performers and audience alike will be moved by the revelations found in this joining of music and poetry from worlds that are different on the surface but in whose depths there is profound unity.

‘Sami Yusuf – Live at the Dubai Opera’ album is available now on all download and streaming sites. Get it from the links below:
http://andnt.co/SYDubaiOpera

The DVD (+ Audio CD) package includes 19 tracks, 4 Bonus tracks + Behind The Scenes, Exclusive Interview with Sami Yusuf as well as a beautifully designed comprehensive booklet with detailed descriptions for all songs.

Buy DVD now: http://andnt.co/SYDubaiOpera-DVD

Live At The Dubai Opera

Jaaneh Jaanaan - Live at the Dubai Opera

The Dawn - Live at the Dubai Opera

ESCRIPTION 

‘The Garden’ is Sami Yusuf’s moving English rendition of the beautiful Azerbaijani folk song ‘Girdim yarın bağçasına’. He is joined by the renowned singer Sevda Alekperzade who sings the Azerbaijani lyrics. The result is a gorgeous interweaving of their voices that underscores the message of this deeply moving and lyrical song of love and longing.

Performed live at the Opening Ceremony of the 43rd World Heritage Committee held at the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, Azerbaijan.


CREDITS 

Words & Music: Azerbaijani Folk Music 
Mugham: Shushtar
Musical Director & Composer: Sami Yusuf
Creative Producer & Director: Andrei Boltenko
English Words: Erkin Love & Will Knox 
Copyright of Andante Records

Mixed & Mastered by Vishnu Rajan @ Andante Studios
Video editing and post-production by Omar Al-Balushi @ Andante Studios

Commissioned by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan


LYRICS

Nightshade blooming in my garden
Love I found on my way 
Taking root when all was darkened
Scarred in me always

Shine, shine, shine on my dark nights 
Shine a light on me 
I've been wandering all my life and 
Now I see the land 

In my mornings, waves have taken
What I thought was there
I left you in time forsaken
(With) flowers in your hair

Shine, shine, shine on my dark nights 
Shine a light on me 
I've been wandering all my life and 
Now I see the land


AZERI SECTION:

Girdim eşqin dəryasına, gəmim dolmadı,
Gənc yaşımda səni sevdim, mənim olmadın yar,
Gənc yaşımda səni sevdim, mənim olmadın.

Gəl, gəl, gəl, gözəlim, gəl,
Sevirəm səni.

Gəl, gəl, gəl, gözəlim, gəl,
Sevirəm səni.

Əgər qismətim olarsan,
Alaram səni.

Əgər qismətim olarsan,
Olaram sənin ah yar yar  

 Əgər qismətim olarsan,
Olaram sənin ah yar yar

Əgər qismətim olarsan,
Olaram sənin


ABOUT THE ALBUM 

Azerbaijan: A Timeless Presence is a breathtaking musical odyssey through a rich artistic and cultural heritage. The music was composed, arranged, and directed by Sami Yusuf for the Opening Ceremony of the 43rd Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Baku on June 30, 2019. The performance was directed by the renowned creative director Andrei Boltenko.

Shirvanshah's Palace

SamiYusuf

Recent comments

Alireza63

Ali

Yousef Alaa Elden

Related tracks