The music on this recording exudes a warmth and humanity that lifts the spirit at a moment when the threads that bind the communities of our planet are becoming increasingly fragile. Daniel Herskedal has travelled through Syria, Lebanon and Palestine to study and absorb the heritage of a region fractured by conflict, and has created a suite of music that celebrates the depth of ancient traditions, and the sheer resilience and dignity of a people threatened by forces beyond their control. Through the prism of Ramallah, Behind the Wall evokes these traditions in exquisitely crafted music that is steeped in Daniel’s insight into a culture that is far too often misunderstood by many in the West. But this is far away from being a simple political statement – rather, its strength derives from landscapes visited and friendships made, reflected by the music’s lyricism and exuberance.

Daniel Herskedal has established himself as an innovative and colourful composer and musician on the European scene, working in a personal and cinematic soundscape in the intersection between classical, folk music and jazz. He has done several albums with his own ensemble, and commissions for, among others, The Russian Patrarchate choir of Moscow, BBC Concert Orchestra and The Royal Norwegian Navy Band. He has also arranged and recorded music for the Brad Pitt-produced film and Joe Talbot-directed ‘The Last Black Man In San Fransisco’. Behind The Wall is his debut on Naxos and his first album as a composer without participating as a musician.