Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru – Jerusalem

Description

From beloved composer Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru, a revelatory new album of piano pieces, unreleased or virtually inaccessible until now! Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru is a true original an Ethiopian nun whose recordings have funded orphanages back home since the early 60s. Her compositions and unique playing style live somewhere between Erik Satie, Debussy, liturgical music of the Coptic Ethiopian Church, and Ethiopian traditional music. It is some of the most moving piano music you will ever hear.

This is the first archival release of the great composers recordings since the thiopiques series reintroduced her music to the world in 2006. Drawn from original master tapes and a nearly impossible-to-find vinyl release, Jerusalem unveils profound new facets of Emahoy Gebrus performance and compositions.

The record picks up where the last two Mississippi releases left off, with tracks from her 1972 album Hymn of Jerusalem, of which only a handful of copies are known to exist. These include Home of Beethoven, Aurora, and a true masterpiece that stands amongst her greatest compositions, the moving Jerusalem. Quand La Mer Furieuse is the first release featuring Emahoys singing voice, forshadowing a vocal album planned for 2023. The B-Side brings us the artists home recordings – tracks like Farewell Eve, Woigaye Dont Cry Anymore, and Famine Disaster 1974 mark a bridge from liturgical work to dark and intense classical material, a new mode.

This album is released in celebration of Emahoy Gebrus 99th birthday on December 12, 2022. Mississippi is honored to work with the Emahoy Tsege Mariam Music Publisher to continue to introduce this visionary composer to the world.

Newly remastered recordings pressed on 160gm black vinyl, heavy jacket with reproduction of 1972 artwork, song notes by the artist.

Tracklist:

1. Famine Disaster 1974
2. Home of Beethoven
3. Jerusalem
4. Aurora
5. Quand La Mer Furieuse
6. Have You Seen Assayehegn?
7. Extract from Rainbow Sonata
8. Woigaye, Dont Cry Anymore
9. Farewell Eve
10. The Pilgrim Song