Noor Cultural Centre and York University
present

From Rabat to Baghdad: A Journey with Arab Folk Music

with

TARAB
Tarek Abboushi (Buzuq)
Taoufiq Ben Amor (Vocals, Oud, and Percussion)
Ramzi El-Edlibi (Tabla, Riq, Daf, and Dance)
Michael Ibrahim (Oud, Nay, and Mizwij)

Between efforts to preserve classical music and the rise of commercial pop, Arab folk music fell through the cracks. The many anonymous poems and melodies, which express the immense diversity of the Arab world and the rich variation in its regional sensibilities, were central to many forms of celebrations and social occasions. Tarab will perform such pieces from many parts of the Arab world in an evening of celebrating this almost forgotten repertoire.

Date: Saturday May 15, 2010
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Auditorium, Noor Cultural Centre
Admission: Adults ($20.00), Children (12 and under; $10)
For tickets: Email tickets@noorculturalcentre.ca or phone 416.444.7148 ext.222

Tarab, founded in 1998, is a group of New York-based musicians who focus on studying and performing the classical Arabic repertoire, instrumental (with such genres as samai, lunga, and dulab) and vocal, with special emphasis on the Andalusi Muwashah and Sufi repertoire. The ensemble also explores traditional folk music from various regions of the Arab world. Importance is given to improvisation, both vocal and instrumental, to allow each musician to explore the maqamat, or scales. The sets performed are generally in the form of a wasla, which is a suite of several pieces all sharing the same maqam. Since its founding, Tarab has performed at several venues and festivals, such as Symphony Space, The Great Hall at Cooper Union, The Joseph Papp Theater, Bowery Ballroom, The Balkan Music Festival, Club Passim, The University of Michigan, Noor Cultural Centre. Tarab has also composed soundtracks for two documentaries and one play.