SOFREH TISCH

Released on May 30, 2025

Pianist Pouya Hamidi, originally from Iran, and cellist Beth Silver, of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, bring their rich respective traditions into Ladom Ensemble’s Sofreh Tisch.

This album reflects the Canadian ensemble’s spirit of friendship and artistic exchange. Is a journey that carries the listener from the striking shores of the Caspian Sea to the verdant plains of Transylvania, through the vibrant musical traditions of the Eastern European Jewish diaspora and even to the heart of The Bronx of the 1950s.

The Persian word sofreh (سفره) refers to a spread or a tablecloth traditionally used in celebrations and weddings, its cultural significance bearing a sense of gathering and coming together. Tisch (טיש), its literal translation being “table”, is comparatively the Yiddish equivalent; a gathering of merriment and storytelling before a special occasion or traditional wedding. In Hasidic context, it can refer to a feast for rabbis and their followers in which they recite texts and sing nigunim - songs without words. The fact that both cultures have this concept of coming together around a table to share so much more than food, and at the same time, an idea that beautifully embodies the spirit of the ensemble, was an opportunity that we couldn’t resist. Infused with elements of hope, Sofreh Tisch is a celebration of dance, folklore, and shared human experience, where the music resonates with the rhythms of history and tradition within a contemporary interpretation.

The Walls are Made of Song

released January 16, 2019

Ladom Ensemble, formed 10 years ago at the University of Toronto, consists of performers from Alberta, Ontario, P.E.I. and Iran. Through their original music, adaptations of classical and folk tunes from Iran, the Balkans, Central Europe, Argentina (and many more), and their collaborations with Canadian composers - they do not represent any one tradition but instead present a uniquely Canadian mosaic of coming together through music in a divided world. They have toured all across Canada. Two special songs featuring Brenna MacCrimmon are included on the album.

Pouya Hamidi, piano

Michael Bridge, accordion

Beth Silver, cello

Adam Campbell, percussion

LADOM ENSEMBLE - DEBUT ALBUM

November 10th, 2013

credits

Pouya Hamidi - Piano
Nemanja Pjanić - Accordion
Marie-Cristine Pelchat St-Jacques - Cello
Adam Campbell - Percussion
****
Jelena Ćirić - Voice
Tombak - Araz Nayeb Pashayee
Daf - Yashar Salek
****
Mixing - Sam Ibbett
Engineer - Jeremy Darby
Album Design - Audrey Bild
CD Liner - Gloria Lipski
Cover photo- Uroš Petrović