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, 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 Faez Choudhary
Composed, Arranged and Performed by Hesham Abdul Wahab

Guitars – Sandeep Sequeira (Palayan)
Bass – Jossie Peter
Sarangi – Suhail Yusuf Khan (Advaita)

Recorded @ Andante Studios, Plug’n’Play Studios and Livewidmusic Studios
Mixed & Mastered @ Andante Studios
—-

Lyrics:
(Translation and transliteration)

Jhulati Hai Jhoola – She is swinging like a swing
Mamta Ki Chaya – The shadow of her love
Maa Ka Dulara – Falls upon her loving son
Jaga Muskaya – Waking up with a smile

Sundar Tha – It was beautiful
Sapna Sa Tha – It was like a dream
Soya Tha Usi Or – As I slept on that spot
Jahan Meri Maa Ke Thi God – Where is my mother’s lap
Dheeray Say Mujh Ko Sula De Meri Maa – Let me sleep again slowly oh mom

Paas Tu Jo Naa Rahe To – If you are not staying with me
Siskiyan Le Kar Mein Ro Dun – I would weap a lot and cry
Maa Mujhe Aa Ke To de do Hosla – Please come and give me courage
Sehla Day – Stroke me
Behla Day – Disperse me
Seenay Say Mujh Ko Laga Lay – Hug me

Wohi Lory, Gaa Phir Se – The same song, sing it again
Nindiya Ko Tu Jaga Day – Wake me up again
Dheeray Se Mujh Ko Sula De – Let me sleep again slowly oh mom
Meri Maa – My Mom
Meri Maa – My Mom
Jhulati Hai Jhoola – She is swinging like a swing
Mamta Ki Chaya – The shadow of her love
Maa Ka Dulara – Falls upon her loving son
Jaga Muskaya – Waking up with a smile

Sukh Mein Dukh Mein Jo Sath Thee – In happiness & sadness she was near
Palak Jhapaktay hi Ko Gayiii – Disappeared in seconds
Lamha Lamha Jo Paas Thee – Every moment she was with me
Door Mujh Se Ho Gayii – Going far away from me
Saza Se Bhi Hai Ye Zyada – This is more than a punishment
Teray Bin Ik Pal Jeeena – Living a second without you
Amma – mother
Amma- mother
Amma – mother

Paas Tu Jo Naa Rahe To – If you are not staying with me
Siskiyan Le Kar Mein Ro Dun – I would weap a lot and cry
Maa Mujhe Aa Ke To de do Hosla – Please come and give me courage
Sehla Day – Stroke me
Behla Day – Disperse me
Seenay Say Mujh Ko Laga Lay – Hug me
Wohi Lory, Gaa Phir Se – The same song, sing it again
Nindiya Ko Tu Jaga Day – Wake me up again
Dheeray Se Mujh Ko Sula De – Let me sleep again slowly oh mom
Meri Maa – My Mom
Meri Maa – My Mom

Jhulati Hai Jhoola – She is swinging like a swing
Mamta Ki Chaya – The shadow of her love
Maa Ka Dulara – Falls upon her loving son
Jaga Muskaya – Waking up with a smile