The Arabesque Music Ensemble Announces its Residency at the University of Florida, April 2-5

posted on: Apr 2, 2009

The Arabesque Music Ensemble announces its residency at the University of Florida, April 2-5. Residency activities include a strings workshop/master class and ethnomusicology lecture at the School of Music; an open ensemble rehearsal; and participation in “Project Downtown,” a Gainesville community program.

The residency will conclude with a concert at University Auditorium on Sunday, April 5 at 7:00 p.m., featuring the classical repertoire of legendary Arab composers.

The Arabesque Music Ensemble (www.arabesquemusicensemble.com), comprised of conservatory-trained musicians from the Middle East and North Africa, is dedicated to perpetuating the legacy of composers from the pantheon of classical Arabic music. Music critic Peter Margasak writes, “Unless you travel to the Middle East, it’s hard to see this stuff played live–and nearly impossible to find a group that can do it with such elegance and passion.”

Ensemble instrumentalists are Hanna Khoury of Philadelphia, violin; Hicham Chami of Chicago, qanun; Naser Musa of Los Angeles, `ud; Kinan Abou-Afach of Chicago, cello; and Michel Merhej Baklouk of New York City, percussion. Youssef Kassab of Brooklyn is lead vocalist.

Performances have garnered consistent critical acclaim in the U.S. and Canadian press, with praise for the ensemble’s “precise rhythms and perfect intonation” (Washington Post) as well as its “rich textures and musical versatility” (Los Angeles Times). The Seattle Post-Intelligencer called the ensemble’s concert “a fascinating and polished performance”; the University Musical Society of Ann Arbor, Michigan deemed the AME a “world-class ensemble.”

The ensemble has released two CDs: “The Songs of Sheikh Sayyed Darweesh: Soul of a People” and “Music of the Three Musketeers” (Riyad al-Sunbati, Zakariyya Ahmad, and Muhammad al-Qasabji). Their current project focuses on the compositions of Muhammad ‘Abd al-Wahhab, a prolific composer and vocalist dubbed “the musician of generations.” Another current project involves a collaboration with Grammy award-winner Fathy Salama of Cairo and his ensemble.

The UF concert is sponsored by the Arabic Cultural Association, Fine Arts College Council, Volunteers for International Student Affairs, Islam on Campus, and International Center, University of Florida; and the Arabesque Foundation for Arab Culture, Chicago.

Admission is free, but tickets are required (available at the box office prior to the concert); for information, please contact ACA liaison Sharday El-Assar at 407-256-5478.