When Moses received the ten commandements from God, his sister Myriam appeared, dancing and singing with a tambourine. The „Nigun“ (music), has continued to remain a focal part of Jewish daily life. To this day, the tambourine is called in Hebrew „Tof Myriam“, which means Myraim’s drum. „Jewish Spirituals“ reflects the religious motivating happiness and the temperament from Timna Brauer.

With this CD, it is the aim of Timna Brauer & The Elias Meiri Ensemble to present Jewish music tradition in all its richness and variety . The ensemble includes folk as well as classical and jazz musicians, who enrich the interpretation with their own musical heritage.

Jewish music is often associated with clarinette, jiddish and klezmer, this means with the Jews, that originally come from Central Europe. Through the dispersement of the Hebrews from Israel through the Romans thoughout the world, the listener can find Arabic, Balkan, Spanish and Indian influences.

„Jewish Spirituals“ is an expansion of traditional music with elements which are somewhat foreign and therefor may be considered as a contribution to a new and contemporary expression.

The CD is dedicated to both grandfathers of Timna Brauer. Simon Brauer who was from Lithiania and Jechel Dhabani who emigrated by foot from Yemen to Palestine during the last century. He served as a coachman for Theodor Herzl, the founder of Zionism. Both were excellent musicians and their songs ­ European and Oriental ­ have inspired Timna as well as contributed to her musical background.

Timnas mother is a yemenite Iraeli and her father, the artist Arik Brauer ­ from Austria. She graduated from the Sorbonne University in Paris with a degree in musicology and has been living in Vienna for the past nine years. Despite her travels, her music never got lost along the way between Tel Aviv, Sana and Vienna ­ as a matter in fact ­ it developed in the electric field between Jiddish, Arabian and European music.