Savalan & Tebrizli Memmed Rza: Album release and book launch
Thursday, March 5
- Melahuset
- 7:00 P.M.
GLOBAL OSLO MUSIC AND VENTURA PUBLISHING INVITE TO ALBUM RELEASE AND BOOK LAUNCH
When Savalan takes the stage this evening, it is to present music from his new album “Savalan”, which has its origins in Azerbaijani traditional music with Sufi texts from the 13th-16th centuries and poems by Tebrizli Memmed Rza. Musicians from a number of countries, as bearers of different cultural expressions, have been carefully selected here to help interpret musical traditions in a new way. The music is based on mugham, a music form from Azerbaijan and developed through improvisation. The result has been a rich music composed by the ensemble with roots in traditions from Azerbaijan, Morocco, Spain, South America and classical European music. East meets West, North meets South, and old becomes new.
The album is released on Global Sonics and is available on digital platforms from March 5th.
Book launch:
Central to Savalan is Tebrizli Memmed Rza, who is a famous musician from South Azerbaijan. He has also written the book “Steps towards the Light – the Struggle for Freedom in South Azerbaijan”. In it, you follow the teacher couple Oghuz and Sevinj into the rural oppression of South Azerbaijan, where they fight against illiteracy and cultural annihilation by teaching children and adults their forbidden native language. Through Uncle Sardar’s secret books from 1945–1946, poetic depictions of daily life and true stories of torture and martyrdom, the novel celebrates the power of education, women’s rights and Azerbaijani identity in a moving tribute to hope and resistance – perfect for fans of “A Thousand Splendid Suns” and “The Kite Runner”. Memmed Rza will present the book from the stage.
The book is published by Ventura Forlag and can be pre-ordered via https://venturaforlag.no/…/skritt-mot-lyset-kampen-forlag…/
On stage:
Tabrizli Memmed Reza, vocals
Nerina Weiss, cello
Chyco Nascimento, guitar
Khalid laaouam, clarinet and saxophone
Ketil Kielland Lund, accordion
Oscar Regueiferos Videaud, percussion
Nb! Children accompanied by adults have free admission
With support from the Arts Council of Norway and the Municipality of Oslo.
