DESCRIPTION:

Composer Sami Yusuf’s mastery of musical languages dazzles in ‘L’Amour Vivant’.
The initial movement unfolds within the intricate geometry of the Baroque style,
a form that was imprinted on the composer’s soul during his upbringing in London
and that remains a cherished inspiration. From the start we hear the subtle
meeting of musical paths in the Arabic baladi rhythm that underlies the graceful melody.
The transition into the second movement transports the listeners to the heart of Sami Yusuf’s
other musical heritage, immersing them in the Central Asian Azerbaijani world.
The third movement revisits the Baroque sound before incorporating
the rich tonalities and nuanced rhythms of the Middle East and Persia,
seamlessly blending them into a sweeping soundscape.
The meditative sounds of the West African kora and the sensuous tones of the Chinese erhu then follow.
The final movement acts as a love letter to the world classical traditions encapsulated here,
skillfully weaving together the myriad emotions experienced throughout this journey in sound.

‘L’Amour Vivant’ is one of Sami Yusuf’s compositions from the second concert of his ‘When Paths Meet’ series.
It features The Sami Yusuf Ensemble, The Scoring Orchestra of Paris, The Métaboles,
and stellar soloists and specialist musicians in a stunning collaboration.
‘L’Amour Vivant’ is classical crossover at its most innovative.
Performed at the Paris Philharmonic.

CREDITS:

Composed and arranged by Sami Yusuf
French words: Thérèse de Lisieux
Uzbek words: Alisher Navoi
Arabic words: Suhrawardi
Turkish words: Kaygusuz Abdal
Performed at the Philharmonie de Paris

THE SAMI YUSUF ENSEMBLE:
Sami Yusuf: Composer & Director

Sami Yusuf: Vocals and Oud
Eyüpcan Açikpazu: Ney
Huseyin Can Pala: Baglama
Hasan Hekimoglu: Oud
Ilyos Arabov: Vocalist
Magsad Azizov: Balaban
Mahyar Toreihi: Santoor
Malik Mansurov: Tar
Ömer Avci: Percussion
Onur Cicin: Qanun
Ruven Ruppik: Bass Darbuka, Riq and Woodblock
Mohammad Jaberi: Daf

SPECIALIST INSTRUMENTAL AND VOCAL SOLOISTS:
Nabyla Maan: Vocals
Guo Gan: Erhu
Ballaké Sissoko: Kora
Antoine Morinière: Classical Guitar
Loriane LLorca: Organ
Eléonore Fourniau: Hurdy Gurdy
Nicolas Mackowiak: Harpsichord

THE SCORING ORCHESTRA OF PARIS:

Pierre-Adrien THÉO
Isabelle THEO
Jonathan GRIMBERT-BARRÉ

Violins 1:
Romuald Grimbert-Barré, first violin
Florian Jourdan
Clara Bourdeix
Madeleine Athané
Gladys Ledoux

Violins 2:
Michael Serra, lead violin
Pauline Gillet
Jérôme Merlet

Violas:
Maxence Grimbert-Barré, lead viola
Valentine Garilli
Axel Benedetti

Cellos:
Jérémie Billet, lead cello
Aurore Montaulieu

Contrabass:
Benoît Levesque

Percussions:
Florie Fazio

THE MÉTABOLES:
Choir Director: Félix Benati
Sopranos:
Émilie Husson
Anne-Claire Baconnais
Clara Penalva

Altos:
Laura Muller
Emmanuelle Monier
Caroline Chassany

Tenors:
Steve Zheng
Marco Van Baaren
Jean-François Chiama
Samuel Zattoni-Rouffy
Benoît Porcherot
Jérémie Couleau

Basses:
Laurent Bourdeaux
Jean-Sébastien Nicolas
Paul-Alexandre Dubois
Jean-Michel Durang

Mixed and Mastered by Vishnu Rajan

Poem by Bulleh Shah
Composed and Performed by Hesham Abdul Wahab

Guitars – Sandeep Sequeira (Palayan)
Tabla and Dholak – Sanu, Dean, Baiju Balakrishnan
Additional Vocals – Rakesh Kesavan and Nithin Raj

Recorded @ Andante Studios, Freddy’s AVG Studios and Livewidmusic Studios
Mixed & Mastered @ Andante Studios
—-

Lyrics:
(Translation and transliteration)

Ghonghat ohley na luk sajna
Main mushtaq dedar de haan
Hide not behind the veil, my love,
I long to have a glimpse of you.

Terey bajh dewani hoi
Tokaan kardey luk sbhoi
Jeker yaar karey diljoi
Taan faryaad pukaar de haan
Without my love, I feel like mad,
People around me laugh at me.
He should come and cheer me up,
This alone remains my plea,

Ghonghat ohley na luk sajna
Main mushtaq dedar de haan
Hide not behind the veil, my love,
I long to have a glimpse of you.

Muft dukandi jandi bandi
Mil mahi jind aweien jand
Eik dam hijr nahi main sahndi
Bulbul main gulzar de haan
Your slave is being auctioned free Come my love and rescue me
No longer can I perch elsewhere I am the Bulbul of your tree

Ghonghat ohley na luk sajna
Main mushtaq dedar de haan
Hide not behind the veil, my love,
I long to have a glimpse of you.

Bulleh Shah owh kon utam tera yaar
Ows dey hath Quraan hey owsey gul zanaar

Who is He?
A queer type friend!
He has the Quran in His hand and And in the same the holy thread

Poem by Bulleh Shah
Composed, Arranged and Perfomed by Hesham Abdul Wahab

Additional Vocals – Rinu Razak, Rakesh Kesavan, Anab Abbas, Anoop Menon, Mithun, Arun Naik, Sandeep Sequeira and Nithin Raj

Recorded @ Andante Studios
Mixed & Mastered @ Andante Studios
—-

Lyrics:
Na main momin vich maseetaan
Na main vich kufar diyan reetaan
Na main paakaan vich paleetaan
Na main moosa na firown

(Not a believer inside the mosque, am I Nor a pagan disciple of false rites
Not the pure amongst the impure Neither Moses, nor the Pharoh)

Bulleya Ki jaana main Kaun
(Bulleya! to me, I am not known)

Na vich shaadi na ghamnaaki
Na main vich paleeti paaki
Na main aabi na main khaki
Na main aatish na main paun

In happiness nor in sorrow, am I Neither clean,
nor a filthy mire Not from water,
nor from earth Neither fire, nor from air, is my birth

Bulleya Ki jaana main Kaun
(Bulleya! to me, I am not known)

Bulleya ki Jaana Bulleya ki Jaana ki Jaana

Written by Aekata Warrier
Composed and Performed by Hesham Abdul Wahab

Guitars – Sandeep Sequeira (Palayan)

Recorded @ Andante Studios and Livewidmusic Studios
Mixed & Mastered @ Andante Studios
—-

Lyrics:
(Translation and transliteration):

Teri meri dastaan
Maa ki dhadkan se hui shuru
Dhoondhthi rahi
Teri nishaani
Mil gayi har jagah
mujhe pukarthi

Mere rooh ki aabroo
Mere nabz ki junoon
Khoon mein samatha
Oh Rabba ye

Sangeeth mera…sangeeth mera…Sangeeth mera
Sangeeth mera…

Raag bani tu baarish ki boondhon se
Dhun nikli tu hawa ke jhonkon mein
Taal sikhayi tu Aag ki tadpthi Lau se
Sur nikli tu Koyal ki Har geet mein

Basthe ho tum
Khilthi hui hassi mein
Dhabi hui aahon mein
Chootathi pasino mein
Mohabbat ki raah mein
Jaadu hain Nasha hain tu

Sangeeth mera…Sangeeth mera

Saare zamane ki ek zabaan tu
Aur Duniyan ki ekta hain tu
Mere lafzo ki bayaan bhi tu
Har taraf sirf tu hi tu

Mere rooh ki aabroo
Mere nabz ki junoon
Khoon mein samatha
Oh Rabba ye