Arabic Music Workshop with Simon Shaheen: Global Maqam and Application in Composition and Improvisation

Adult Group Class

For intermediate students.
Arabic music’s distinct tonal quality is largely due to the unique sonic element of microtones. Microtones are the quarter tones found in between the half tones that may be a more familiar sound to the Western ear. These tones within an Arabic maqam allow for an infinity of potential tonal orientations with each maqam having its own unique identity. Examples include Hijaz, Rast, Suznak, Bayati, Sikah, and many more. Simon can offer a more sweeping discussion of maqam and how they may be employed for composition and performance, or he can offer a discussion of 3 or 4 specific maqamat, depending on the interest of the students. Simon will use a system using sharps, flats, and half-flats to indicate the microtones in each scale.

Simon Shaheen dazzles his listeners as he deftly leaps from traditional Arabic sounds to jazz and Western classical styles. His soaring technique, melodic ingenuity, and unparalleled grace have earned him international acclaim as a virtuoso on the ‘oud and violin. Shaheen is one of the most significant Arab musicians, performers, and composers of his generation. His work incorporates and reflects a legacy of Arabic music, while it forges ahead to new frontiers, embracing many different styles in the process.

Grouped with: Folk / Global Traditions / Middle Eastern / Musicianship