Event

Alhan

For this performance Alhan will continue its exploration of the rich classical and spiritual music of the Middle East. The members of ALHAN bring many varied musical backgrounds to their exciting interpretation of Middle Eastern Music and have studied with master teachers from Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Egypt. Madeleine Hanna; lead vocals and duff, Lauren Hastings; violin, Tom Kovacevic; oud, nay and vocals, and Eric LaPerna; riqq, and nay.

ALHAN Middle Eastern Music Ensemble performs classical and popular Arabic and Turkish music of the 17th to the 21st centuries. Alhan's repertoire is drawn from compositions of some of the preeminent composers of Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and Turkey. Alhan plays a number of instruments unique to Middle Eastern Music. The oud, a short necked fretless lute. The riqq, a well-made tambourine which has a very developed technique including multiple hand positions and ways of striking the head and symbols. The nay is a rim blown bamboo flute which traces its ancestry back to Sumer. Middle Eastern Music, through its microtonal scales and complex meters seems capable of an almost unlimited range of melodic and expressive possibility.