Musical worlds
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The Jerusalem Youth Chorus
Building bridges with song
Every week, Jewish, Christian and Muslim youths meet to sing together. And they do so in the middle of a city where Israelis and Palestinians are often at loggerheads. Anja Koch reports from Jerusalem
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Behind the veil
The double life of Pakistan rapper Eva B
Pakistan's breakthrough rapper Eva B has racked up millions of views online, but walking through the labyrinthine streets of her Karachi neighbourhood, she is anonymous. Her hair covered with a hijab and a veil falling below her eyes, she evades the attention of fans and detractors
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Arooj Aftab's "Vulture Prince"
Coping with pain in Urdu
The first musician with Pakistani roots to win a Grammy, Arooj Aftab has been recognised for her third album Vulture Prince – a meditative, moving song cycle in which she captures loss and pain using poetry in Urdu and guest collaborators from all over the world. By Stefan Franzen
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Musica Sequenza Chamber Music Ensemble
Spanning times and cultures
Berlin-based international chamber music ensemble Musica Sequenza is known for its modern interpretation of baroque music. With his latest project, the opera "Kassia", composer and ensemble director Burak Ozdemir transcends temporal, cultural and geographical boundaries. By Ceyda Nurtsch
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Reem Kelani's "The Singer Said: Bird of Dawn"
Homage to the grand master of Persian music
Singer-songwriter Reem Kelani's latest release – "The Singer Said: Bird of Dawn" – pays tribute to Mohammad Reza Shajarian. The two-song EP features Kelani's unique take on a famous Shajarian anthem and a second track symbolic of the iconic Iranian singer's life. By Richard Marcus
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Boubacar "Badian" Diabate's "Mande Guitar: African Guitar Series Vol 1"
Acoustic guitar played with passion and joy
"Mande Guitar: African Guitar Series Vol 1" by Boubacar "Badian" Diabate is the first release on the Lion Songs Records label just established by esteemed music journalist Banning Eyre. Primarily an album of solo guitar tracks, each song on the album is a different exploration of Diabate's virtuosity. By Richard Marcus
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Chanters in Cyprus
Preserving the 'rich heritage' of Byzantine music
Chanting resonates through a church in the Cypriot resort town of Ayia Napa, darkened but for a few low lights and mobile devices displaying the singers' Byzantine melodies
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Abderrahmane Abdelli's "Songs of Exile"
Yearning for home
As current events continue to remind us, people all over the world are constantly being forced into exile. "Songs of Exile", created by Algerian Berber exile Abderrahmane Abdelli, captures the plight of these people and expresses some of their hopes and fears through music. By Richard Marcus
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Filming Lebanon’s all-women metal band "Slave to Sirens"
Heavy metal combats the Beirut blues
U.S. filmmaker Rita Baghdadi’s film following an all-female Lebanese metal band is well worth a watch. It’s the story of five fascinating young women embarking on their careers as their country falls apart. By Rene Wildangel
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Islamic mysticism
A flute like the breath of God
Music and rhythm have always played a substantial role in Islamic mysticism. Sufis clap, drum, breathe or rock in time with the music. It is their way of trying to overcome their egos and thereby bring themselves closer to God. By Julia Ley
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Palestinian-Israeli rappers
Dugri duo for dialogue
"We have had enough of hate and violence": when the situation between Hamas and Israel escalated again in May last year, a Jewish and an Arab Israeli sought an artistic and stirring response. They call themselves "Dugri" – straight talking for a better future. By Sarah Judith Hofmann
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"Naga (Part II)" by Flèche Love
The triumph of love and life over pain
"Naga (Part II)", on L-abe records, is the latest release from Swiss-Algerian performance artist Flèche Love (Amina Cadelli). Richard Marcus listened to the album and was struck by its emotional and intellectual honesty