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In Focus: Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru
Focus on Emahoy Tsegue Maryam Guebrou
An hour of spellbinding solo piano recordings from one of the most fascinating musicians of the past century. Born Yewubdar Guèbrou in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, into an upper class family, she was classically trained in piano and violin, notably even performing for Emperor Haile Selassie.
She was invited to study at the Royal College of Music in London, but her admission was blocked by the Ethiopian government. Dismayed by this news, she turned to religion, becoming an Orthodox nun, taking the title "Emahoy" and changing to the religious name Tsegué Mariam.
She spent the rest of her years living out these holy orders, first in Addis, and eventually in Jerusalem, where she continued to write and record music – a truly singular style of piano composition, as indebted to the proto-ambience of Erik Satie as it is to the Ethiopian tradition.
This mix, selected by NTS, features recordings from "Church of Kidane Mehret", a new archival release from Mississippi Records, including previously unheard material.
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Tracklist
- Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru, Kate MollesonExcerpt From The Honky Tonk Nun, Interview On BBC Radio 4, 2017
- Emahoy Tsege Mariam GebruThe Homeless Wanderer
- Emahoy Tsege Mariam GebruThe Mad Man's Laughter
- Emahoy Tsege Mariam GebruSong Of Abayi
- Emahoy Tsege Mariam GebruEthiopia My Motherland
- Emahoy Tsege-Mariam Gebru, Maya DunietzSpring Ode
- Emahoy Tsege-Mariam GebruAurora
- Emahoy Tsege Mariam GebruThe Phantom
- Emahoy Tsege Mariam GebruWoigaye, Don’t Cry Anymore
- Emahoy Tsege Mariam GebruJordan River Song
- Emahoy Tsege Mariam GebruPrayer For Peace, Ps. 122 (Kyrie Eleison)
- Emahoy Tsege Mariam GebruReverie
- Emahoy Tsege Mariam GebruTenkou! Why Feel Sorry?
- Emahoy Tsege Mariam GebruEvening Breeze
- Emahoy Tsege Mariam GebruThe Storm
- Emahoy Tsege Mariam GebruMother's Love