The word “puertas,”
or doors, holds special symbolism in Sephardic culture. When Jewish
families, like my own, were expelled from Spain in 1492, many took
with them the keys to their houses in the hopes that one day soon
they would be able to return to their ancestral homes. Some Sephardic
families, now scattered around the world, claim that they still
have these keys, having passed them down from generation to generation
more than 500 years since they last closed their puertas
and left their Spanish homes behind.
Although my family is not in possession of such a key, the thought
of one continually guides and inspires me. The spiritual key to
my family history has opened the door for me to a vast world of
cultural and musical inspiration. In fact, the word “puertas”
has many meanings for me. Since our first album, A la Una: In
the Beginning, many puertas have opened for the Sarah Aroeste
Band. In that album, we explored the origins of my roots, and through
our contemporary interpretation of traditional Ladino (Judeo-Spanish)
music, we opened a new door to understanding this culture. In this
second album, Puertas, we open the door even further and
take a more assertive step in this cultural journey.
Inside Puertas you will hear daring uses of instrumentation,
interpretation, and translation of mostly traditional Ladino
songs. Through musical choices such as pairing the traditional oud
with electric guitar, or using arrangements that highlight a more
aggressive rock inspiration, one can hear a clear, bold combination
of modern and traditional sounds. Like in A la Una: In the Beginning,
this new album contains songs with universal themes such as young
love, longing and heartache. Here, there are also songs about tradition,
one of which I purposefully chose to write in English as a personal
dedication to my cultural history. In “Thessaloniki”
(Track 9), I offer an ode to my ancestors who made this part of
Greece their home after being forced to leave Spain in the 15th
century. Although Thessaloniki did not support the Sephardic community
on the eve of WWII (in fact, it actively turned against us), I dream
of a time when a new door will open to a thriving and beautiful
Thessaloniki, where flourishing communities of Jews, Muslims and
Christians live together in harmony as they once did. I am indebted
to my family who sacrificed and nurtured this rich Sephardic culture
over many centuries, and opened their doors for me to share this
music with you today.
But the music that lies inside this album simply represents my key,
or interpretation, into this culture. There are obviously many other
keys to unlock the puertas to Sephardic history. I have
chosen the key that, for me, respects the tradition from which I
come, but also opens an entryway for the future. So as I invite
you with our title track, “Avre Tu Puerta”—
come open your door. Use the key I am offering to open the door,
and yourself, to what awaits behind…
-Sarah Aroeste
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