Convivencia: The Three Worlds of Renaissance Spain

\”Convivencia: The Three Worlds of Renaissance Spain\” is an Early Music concert that explores the theme of “convivencia”—co-existence of the three great cultures of early Spain—through period-appropriate musical performances enhanced by a corresponding lecture from world-renowned musicologist, Professor Edwin Seroussi.

The term Convivencia (or Coexistence) refers to the time period when the three great cultures of early Spain (Muslim, Jewish, and Christian) co-existed in the Iberian Peninsula. The intermingling of the three peoples resulted in intercultural influences on all aspects of life: social, intellectual, political, and artistic. We are delighted to collaborate with our guest scholar, Professor Edwin Seroussi (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem), who will deliver the pre-concert lecture one hour prior to each performance.

Edwin Seroussi is the Emanuel Alexandre Professor of Musicology and the director of the Jewish Music Research Centre at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He researches Judeo-Islamic relations in music, North African and Eastern Mediterranean Jewish music, and Israeli popular music. A pioneer in the study of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern musical cultures and traditions, Professor Seroussi was awarded the 2018 Israel Prize in the music category. He has also won the Joel Engel Prize for Life Achievement in Jewish Music Research, Tel Aviv Municipality.

Professor Seroussi received his PhD in Music from UCLA. He has held visiting-professor and fellowship appointments across the globe, including at the University of Oxford, University of Pennsylvania, University of Chicago, Dartmouth College, and Harvard University. He has previously served as president of the Israel Musicological Society and as the president of the Israel Committee of the International Music Council, UNESCO.