First formed in 1979, Libana, focuses on researching and performing songs, dances and instrumental music from around the world, particularly music written for, by and about women. 'Turning' is the group's 7th excellent album, some of the 17 songs accompanied by its members playing their own instruments, including clarinet, djembe, djun djun, bells, frame drum, kalimba, shekere, soprano recorder, accordion, hammered dulcimer, ipu, piano and agogo bell. Some of our favorites are the a cappella tunes 'I Arise Facing East' by Deborah Lanstaff, the Japanese Folk tune 'Hotaru Koi,' 'Con el Viento,' a lovely round from Renaissance Spain, the powerful Bulgarian Folk tune 'Planino Peren,' Linda Hischhorn's soaring 'Sin Shalom' and Melchior Franck's 16th Century round 'Da Pacem.' We also particularly loved the percussion-accompanied South African tune 'Babe Thandaza/Sin Djen,' the live Hawai'ian song 'E Pele E Pele/E Pele I Hawai'i' and the greeting and blessing for peace, 'Salaam Aleikhum.' Libana's music is always a treat to us, authentic and new to our ears; and performed beautifully with reverence and spirit!

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