Melothesia Æthiopica (Live)

Featuring

Emmanuelle Guigues
Endres Hassen
Gizachew Goshu
Jean-Christophe Frisch
Mathieu Dupouy
Misale Legesse

Pascale Clément
Thibaut Roussel
Cyrille Gerstenhaber
Anonymous (Traditional)
Anonymous

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Recording & Production

This album was recorded live on February 1, 2013, at the Théâtre du Garde-Chasse in Les Lilas.

Historical Context

The album explores the possibility of European Baroque instruments like organs and violas da gamba having been transported to Abyssinia (Ethiopia) around 1600.

Performer Biography

Melaku Belay, a dancer and director on this album, was a child of the streets in Addis Ababa who became a star by sneaking into weddings and ritual ceremonies to dance.

Interpretation

The ensemble XVIII-21 Le Baroque Nomade, directed by Jean-Christophe Frisch, aims to recreate historical and cultural connections between European Baroque repertoire and musical traditions from other cultures.

Album & Artwork

The album title, Melothesia Æthiopica, refers to the historical musical exchanges between Europe and Ethiopia in the 17th century.

Historical Context

Jesuit missionaries, including musicians, traveled from Europe to Ethiopia via India in the 17th century, bringing with them instruments like harps, violas da gamba, and harpsichords.