El Piyyut
Micro-Festival of Sacred Music
A cross-cultural celebration of sacred song, Jewish liturgical poetry, and spiritual musical traditions - featuring textual and musical study sessions, workshops, masterclasses, and intimate performances.
Piyyut (plural: Piyyutim) is a Jewish liturgical poem and an ancient form of Jewish art that combines sacred poetic texts with melodies. Piyutim are designated to be sung during religious services or celebrations.
Piyyutim are intricate wordplay, drawing inspiration from biblical verses, rabbinic and Kabbalah literature. They are renowned for their profound theological themes, mystical imagery, and connection to the liturgical calendar. These poems are composed in various meters and rhyme schemes, showcasing the poet's mastery of the Hebrew language and poetic devices.
The Piyyut traditions not only preserves the religious and cultural heritage of the Jewish people but also serves as a means of expressing devotion, gratitude, and introspection. It allows Jewish communities to connect with their spiritual roots.
The art of Piyyut has enormous potential as a communal activity of text study and group singing, attracting a variety of audiences, including women and men, adults and youth, religious and secular individuals, as well as Ashkenazim and Sephardim/Mizrahim.
The Piyyut Festival aims to establish a consistent communal activity of Piyyut study (textual and musical) and group singing, open for all communities in the city.
El Piyyut
Micro-Festival of Sacred Music – Barcelona
June 19 -20, 2025
Casa Adret - C/ de Salomó ben Adret, 6, 08002 Barcelona
Artistic director: Ofer Ronen
Thursday, June 19
12:00-14:00 - Introduction to Sephardic Piyyut music
Prof. Gil Dori
16:00-18:00 - The Art of Piyyut: Sacred Jewish Poetry and Liturgy
Prof. Edwin Seroussi - Online from The Institute of Sacred Music, Yale University
20:00-21:30 - Concert:
Duo Andalus: Lala Tamar & Ofer Ronen, with Special Guest Neila Benbey
Friday, June 20
16:00-18:00 - Masterclass workshop: Jewish & Muslim sacred singing
Lala Tamar – Musician, Singer and music researcher
20:00-21:30 - Concert:
“Nochada sefardí” - Rosa Zaragoza with Rusó Sala
