The first album by these young performers from Europe and the Middle East is born out of the need to bridge the distance between the shores and sonic world’s of a rapidly changing region. Musicians from Egypt, Turkey, Portugal and Italy met in Cairo to build a new collective musical identity, blending timbres and backgrounds in a unique artistic collaboration with Festival Aix-en-Provence, supported by Abu Dhabi Festival.
Abu Dhabi Festival is launching Belgian-Iraqi composer and researcher Qoutayba Neaimi’s revolutionary new innovation, a musical system that will change the way musicians throughout the world understand Arab music.
Retracing the history of the oud over more than a century and presenting eminent oud players and musicians, this box set of 2 CDs and 1 DVD, with an accompanying booklet, is a comprehensive archive of the most iconic instrument from the Arab region.
Traversing the globe in 13 compositions played by 128 musicians in 20 countries, Hekayat captures the
musical traditions and cultures of every continent. Fusing genres such as hip-hop, western classical
music and Khaleeji rhythms.
In a unique combination of styles from a variety of cultures and time periods, Rahbany blends music from his own Lebanese Arab origins with European Baroque music such as Bach and Vivaldi, intricate Indian rhythms and the irresistible swing of Brazilian beats.
In an album based on Arab poetry, this rising Syrian-American musician and composer shows the love and wisdom present in that poetry. The poets come from all walks of life and many eras, theologies and philosophies, but they are all unified by art.
The up-and-coming Saudi pop singer’s new 5-song EP Ismak will debut as part of Abu Dhabi Festival. Immersed in the world of western pop music, Tamtam brings elements from her Saudi roots into her music at just the right times, singing in Arabic or English whenever they feel natural.
