“Monajat” | Multi-Sensory, Cross-Generational Album From the Artists Behind “The Nightingale of Iran”.

Dr. Galeet Dardashti’s multi-sensory project and album, "Monajat," is inspired by old and haunting recordings of Jewish prayers chanted by her late grandfather, Younes Dardashti, a famous master singer of Persian classical music in 1950s/60s Iran. Galeet reinvents the ancient ritual of Selihot—religious poetry chanted nightly before the Jewish New Year—by singing with remixed samples of her grandfather’s legacy recordings. Riffing off these old tapes, Galeet composes a soundscape of original music performed by an acclaimed ensemble of Middle Eastern and jazz musicians. Dynamic video art created by artist/designer Dmitry Kemell envelopes the audience, bringing the audience into the ritual. At this very fraught time in the Middle East, this project recalls a time when Persian Jewish and Muslim culture was shared for many generations.