Shlomo Bar (1943- ) is an
Israeli musician, composer, and social activist. He is a pioneer of
ethnic music
Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has ...
in Israel.
Biography
Shlomo Bar was born in
Rabat,
Morocco
Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria ...
. His family immigrated to
Israel
Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
when he was six. He learned how to play the
darbuka
The goblet drum (also chalice drum, tarabuka, tarabaki, darbuka, darabuka, derbake, debuka, doumbek, dumbec, dumbeg, dumbelek, toumperleki, tumbak, or zerbaghali; arz, دربوكة / Romanized: ) is a single-head membranophone with a goblet-s ...
and other
ethnic percussion instruments, performing in various small lineups and as a backing musician for artists such as
Matti Caspi
Matti Caspi ( he, מתי כספי) is an Israeli composer, musician, singer, arranger, and lyricist. Born in 1949, he is regarded as one of Israel's top popular musicians.
His music's style is informed by classical music, Brazilian and Latin m ...
on tours. In 1976 he played in
Yehoshua Sobol
Joshua Sobol ( he, יהושע סובול; born 24 August 1939), is an Israeli playwright, writer, and theatre director.
Biography
Joshua Sobol was born in Tel Mond. His mother's family fled the pogroms in Europe in 1922 and his father's family imm ...
and
Noa Chelton
Noa or NOA may refer to:
People
*Noa (name)
* Noa (Achinoam Nini), Israeli singer
* Noa, one of the five daughters of Zelophehad (her name is spelled "Noah" in some Bible translations)
Fictional
* Noa (dog), a dog in ''Inubaka: Crazy for Do ...
's ''Kriza'' (Nerves), a play about
social injustice
Social justice is justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, Equal opportunity, opportunities, and Social privilege, privileges within a society. In Western Civilization, Western and Culture of Asia, Asian cultures, the concept of social ...
and discrimination again Mizrahi Jews in Israel. Bar set to music and performed several of Sobol's songs, including "Yeladim Ze Simcha" (Children are joy).
Bar then formed his own group, "Habrera Hativeet" (literally, "Natural Selection," but they call themselves "Natural Gathering") with bassist and producer
Yisrael Borochov. The original lineup was
Samson Kehimkar
Samson Kehimkar was a Jewish violinist and sitar player from India. One of the pioneers of ethnic and world music in Israel. Before emigrating in 1976, he played in Indian classical orchestras, film and pop bands. One of the founding members of ...
, an
India
India, officially the Republic of India ( Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the ...
n violin and
sitar
The sitar ( or ; ) is a plucked stringed instrument, originating from the Indian subcontinent, used in Hindustani classical music. The instrument was invented in medieval India, flourished in the 18th century, and arrived at its present form i ...
virtuoso, Miguel Herstein, an American guitarist, the bassist
Yisrael Borochov, and Bar on percussion and vocals. Yisrael Borochov had a stark influence on the sound of the group, and before he left had arranged, recorded and produced the first two albums of the band. Disagreements over where the direction of the band was going led him to split from Bar and to form the
East West Ensemble.
The first album, "Elei Shorashim" (Origins, or a Return to Roots), combined traditional Moroccan and Yiddish music, with Indian elements and motifs, as well as new renditions of songs by
Israeli poets
Israeli may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to the State of Israel
* Israelis, citizens or permanent residents of the State of Israel
* Modern Hebrew, a language
* ''Israeli'' (newspaper), published from 2006 to 2008
* Guni Israeli ( ...
. The songs were long, some of them running for eight minutes, and the subject matter was unusual for the time.
The lineup went through several changes in the 1980s and 90s.

Bar's musical influences are broad, including
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Often regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture during a career sp ...
and
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Davis adopted a variety of musi ...
on the one hand, and
classical Indian music and
Jewish liturgy
Jewish liturgy is the customary public worship of Judaism. The liturgy may include responsive reading, songs, or music, as found in the Torah and Haftorah, the Amidah, piyyutim, and Psalms. Singing or reading the Psalms has a special role in the ...
on the other.
[http://www.notes.co.il/mati/21190.asp "מגיל צעיר עברו לי מהפכות של הכרה. והייתי מבין הראשונים ששמעו את מיילס דיוויס, נינה סימון, בוב דילן ואחרים. עוד לפני שהם הגיעו לרדיו. אני מכיר אותם כבר ארבעים שנה. והנשמה שלי תמיד נמשכה אחרי איכות. תגיד לי מה אתה שומע ואומר לך מי אתה. שמעתי מוזיקה הודית קלאסית והבנתי למה אני קיים. לפני זה רציתי להיות אלביס, מיילס ויכולתי להעריך את התרבות הזו. אבל לא יכולתי להיות חלק ממנה. אני יכול להיות מושפע ממנה אבל לא יכולתי להיות במקומה"]
Discography
With Habrera Hativeet:
1979 - "Elei Shorashim" (Origins)
# Tfila - A Prayer
# Children Are Happiness - Yeladim Ze Simcha
# In The Village Of Todra - Ezleinu Bikfar Todra
#
Dror Yikra
# Kotzim - Thorns
# A Moroccan Wedding - Hatuna Marokait
1980 - "Mechakim LeSamson" (Waiting for Samson)
# Hassidic Dialogue - Du siah Hassidi
# Spring - Aviv (Bhairavi)
# The Love Of Theresa Dimon - Ahavata Shel Theresa Dimon
#
Walking to Caesarea - Halicha LeKeisaria
# The Dark Girl - Shecharhoret
# Be True - Heye Davek
# Alone - Levad
1982 - "Chut Shazur" (Woven Thread)
# The Market Song - Shir Hashuk
# Sultanas Lament - Kinat Sultana
# To God I Shall Hearken - El El Ashacher
# Who Knew - Mi Yada
# Bread and Garment - Lehem Beged
# Haji Baba
# My Field - Shdemati
1985 - "Mitoch Kelim Shvurim" (Out of Broken Vessels)
# Thou Art Land - At Adama
# Danino the Immigrant's Run - Ritzato Shel Haole Danino
# Or Haganuz
# Hama
# My Love Shall Come to His Garden - Yavo Dodi Legano
# A Song of Degrees - Shir Lamaalot
1988 - "Michutz LaChomot" (Outside the Walls)
# Who's There - Mi Shama
# When Shall Zion be Established - Matai Techonan Ir Tzion
# E'eroch Mahalal Nivi
# The Flute - Hehalil
# An Air - Neima
# Your Fingers - Et Etsbeoteicha
1991 - "Nedudim" (Wandering)
# A Seed Sleeps - Yashen Lo Garin
# Naked and Bare - Erom VeEria
# Walking to Caesarea - Halicha LeKeisaria
# I Am an Innocent Girl - Ani Tama
# Seven Sections - Shiv'a Medorim
# Wandering - Nedudim
# Three Were Founded - Shlosha Nosdu
# Honi The Circle Drawer - Honi Hameagel
# Reaching an Understanding - Hidavrut
1993 - "Peimot Shchorot" (Black Beats)
# Yafa Ahuvati - Beautiful is My Beloved
# My Land to The Redeemer - Artzi Lagoel
# The Desert Speaks - Hamidbar Medaber
# 10/14 (a percussion piece)
# And Then As Stream Waters - Veaz Kemei Nahal
# Hamsa
# A Song For Peace - Shir Lashalom
# For Thou Art a Man - Ki Ata Adam
# Black Beats - Peimot Shhorot (a percussion piece)
1994 - "David U Shlomo" (David and Solomon) - with
David D'Or
David D'Or ( he, דוד ד'אור; born David Nehaisi on October 2, 1965) is an Israeli singer, composer, and songwriter. A countertenor with a vocal range of more than four octaves, he is a three-time winner of the Israeli "Singer of the Year" ...
# Halleluijah - Haleluya
# A Voice From the Heavens - Kol Mehashamayim
# In the Village of Todra - Etzlenu Bikfar Todra
# In Your Heart - Belibech
# My Field - Shdemati
# Don't Cast Me Off - Al Tashlicheni
# Protect the World - Shmor Al Haolam
# The Mercy Gate - Shaar Harachamim
# A Song For Peace - Shir Lashalom
# The Sailor's Love - Ahuvat Hasapan
# Instrumental
# A Prayer - Tfila
# Comes From Love - Baa Me'ahava
# Tfila
# He Will Come - Hu Yavo
1996 - "Yachef" (Barefoot)
# My Heart - Libi
# The hope of God - Tikvat Hael
# Walking to the Palace (Instrumental) - Halicha Laarmon
# Neglected - Mezulzelet
# He is Great - Adir Hu
# The Immigrant Danino's Run - Ritsato Shel Haole Danino
# A close friend - Haver Karov
# Batash (Lit. meaning: A meeting between two elements)
# Reveal The Story - Saper Saper
# Lover of My Soul -
Yedid Nefesh
# Barefoot - Yahef
2003 - "Maim Ne'emanim" (Faithful Waters) - A Collection
''CD1''
# Tfila
# Yeladim Ze Simcha
# Etzleinu Bikfar Todra
# Kinat Sultana
# Dror Ikra
# Hatuna Marokait
# Sheharhoret
# Ahavata Shel Teresa Dimon
# Shir Hashuk
# Hagi Baba
# Mi Yada
# Ritzato Shel Haole Danino
# At Adama
# El El Ashacher
''CD2''
# A Song of Yearning - Shir Kmiha
# A Japanese Legend - Agada Yapanit
# Et Etsbeoteicha
# Hahalil
# Halicha Lekeisaria
# Erom Veeria
# Hamidbar Medaber
# Shdemati
# Honi Hameagel
# Ani Tama
# Saper Saper
# Yedid Nefesh
# Mezulzelet
# Haver karov
#
Zemer Nouge
2006 - "Ananim Nemuhim" (Low Clouds)
# Low Clouds - Ananim Nemuchim
# Genesis (Light) - Or (Bereshit)
# The Seagulls - HaSchafim
# And again - Veshuv
# Da-re
# Woman's poem - Shirat Isha
# The Noon-Land's song - Shir Admat Hatzehoraim
# Circles - Maagalim
# Formless and Void - Tohu Vavohu
2010 - "Besod Tfilat Arar" (In a Secret of Solitary Prayer)
References
External links
*
The MOOMA database (Heb)A recent interview (Heb)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bar, Shlomo
1943 births
Living people
Israeli male composers
Moroccan emigrants to Israel
Israeli people of Moroccan-Jewish descent
Jewish Israeli musicians
20th-century Israeli male musicians
21st-century Israeli male musicians
20th-century Israeli composers
21st-century Israeli composers
21st-century Moroccan Jews
People from Rabat
People from Sderot