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

Lyrics:

Bolotho-kar-isharay (Tell me, on whose gesture…)
Golap-thar-gondho-bilay? (…the rose gives out its fragrance?)
Bolotho-kar-isharay (Tell me, on whose gesture…)
Megher-pahar-brishti-jhoray? (…the clouds release the rain?)
Ei-duniay (…in this world)

Bolotho-kar-isharay (Tell me, on whose gesture…)
Hashe-chad-akashe? (…the moon smiles in the sky?)
Jonaki-dhey-je-alo (…and the firefly glows…)
Mayabi-abeshe? (…in an air of enchantment?)

She-kotha-bhebe-bhebe (Pondering over all of this…)
Mon-amar-jay-hariye (…my mind becomes lost in wonderment…)
Dur-ojanay (…to a faraway, unknown place)

Bolotho-kar-isharay (Tell me, on whose gesture…)
Golap-thar-gondho-bilay? (…the rose gives out its fragrance?)
Bolotho-kar-isharay (Tell me, on whose gesture…)
Megher-pahar-brishti-jhoray? (…the clouds release the rain?)
Ei-duniay (…in this world)

Who made the clouds come by
So we can live and be?
Sending rain so soft and mild
Cleansing you and me?

Who gave me clear eyes to see
The moon when it beams?
He taught me how silent love can be
A road to your dreams

Who taught the mothers of the world
To love us the way they do?
When all the trials unfurl
All they think of is you

You still make me cry
You still make me laugh
Don’t let me ever forget
About our golden past

And so the world moves on its way
Newcomers join every day
Tomorrow they will say…

Bolotho-kar-isharay (Tell me, on whose gesture…)
Golap-thar-gondho-bilay? (…the rose gives out its fragrance?)
Bolotho-kar-isharay (Tell me, on whose gesture…)
Megher-pahar-brishti-jhoray? (…the clouds release the rain?)
Ei-duniay (…in this world)

Ne guzel yaratmissin nimetlerini
biz kullarina ey Yuce Allah
Nasil sukredelim verdigin bu kadar
ihsanlarina ey Yuce Allah
How beautiful are the blessings
You’ve bestowed upon us your servants O mighty Allah
How can we ever thank You
for all the bounties you’ve bestowed upon us O mighty Allah

Her zaman ismin dilimizde ey Allah, ey Allah
Her zaman askin kalbimizde ey Allah, ey Allah
Your name is always on our tongues
Your love is always in our hearts

Biz gunahkar, biz perisan,
Sen Rahimsin, hem de Rahman
Aglarim, yalvaririm,
Bagisla bizi…
We are reckless sinners
You are most merciful and most compassionate
I cry and implore You to forgive us

Kendimize yazik ettik,
Hak yolunda hata ettik,
Aglarim, yalvaririm,
Bagisla bizi…
We’ve wronged ourselves
From the way of truth we have strayed
I cry and implore You to forgive us

Her zaman ismin dilimizde ey Allah, ey Allah
Her zaman askin kalbimizde ey Allah, ey Allah
Your name is always on our tongues
Your love is always in our hearts