v.a. - The begenna of elders - The harp of David in Ethiopia [2009]

   R   E   U   P   L   O   A   D   

Alemu Aga - "Besmeab - Abatachin Hoy", 

playing the Begenna, the Harp of David from Ethiopia

01. Alemu Aga - The Sacred Names Of The Begenna (6:36)

02. Alemu Aga - Alem Marefiya Nat (The World Is A Place Of Rest) (4:25)

03. Alemu Aga - Hosanna (Cry Of Praise And Adoration To God) (4:09)

04. Seyoum Mengistu - Segid Selam (Worship For Peace) (2:44)

05. Seyoum Mengistu - Gidune (Unwillingly) (4:27)

06. Seyoum Mengistu - Hede Minino (Went To The Hermitage) (3:11)

07. Admassu Fikre - Ehud Lelit (Sunday Night - About The Ressurrection) (2:55)

08. Admassu Fikre - Kidus Kidus (The Praise Of The Lord) (5:31)

09. Admassu Fikre - Medinanazelesegna (The Futility Of Life) (4:08)

10. Tafesse Tesfaye - Besemea (In The Name Of The Father) (3:05)

11. Tafesse Tesfaye - Ergibina Wane ((The Praise Of St. Virgin Mary) (4:34)

12. Tafesse Tesfaye - Wodaje Wodaje (About The Sufferings Of Christ) (3:48)

       Alemu Aga was born in 1950 in Entoto, near Addis Ababa. Alemu Aga has played the Ethiopian traditional lyre Begenna since he was 12, having been trained by a famous master, Aleqa Alemayehu Wolde-Ammanuel, who was his neighbour and teacher at his school.

     After graduating from the Addis Ababa University (with a degree in geography), he taught the Begenna at the Yared Music School until 1980. He now teaches on a voluntary basis and focuses on his research about the Begenna.

      He has published numerous audiotapes and several CD‘s and appeared in concert worldwide. Nowadays, Alemu Aga is the most highly respected Begenna player of Ethiopia.

    Talking on any subject with Alemu Aga, one cannot help but be taken aback by the exceptionally smooth and enchanting tone in which the veteran begena performer utters his measured responses. Of course, given the gracious and calm mood displayed on all occasions by one of the few living authorities on the begena instrument, it could still be possible to pass Alemu Aga's spiritual and melancholic sounding tones as mere natural endowments of that exceptional man. But take the scores of begena lyrics Alemu is known to sing again and again, especially during fasting seasons, on the national radio and you have just begun to appreciate the high degree of sublimity (as they call it in the theatre) that the personality of Alemu has afforded to the art of that unique Ethiopian treasure.

    True enough then that in manners, speech and strict Orthodox Christian way of life, the personality of Alemu Aga, to say the least, could be described as all begena in itself. And this is due to the fact that all the enchanting monotony of lyrical sounds that the traditional string instrument is capable of producing, together with the strict spiritual messages the lyrics carry, have almost perfectly captivated the psyche and physique of the virtuoso performer. "In performing with the begena, one is only supposed to appropriately reflect strictly spiritual and holy messages. Anything less and worldly than that, like modern music, is not attributable to the purposes of the begena and is hence disrespectful," he says.