Between the Mountain and the River

A sparkling program of the Culture Unlimited Festival where the sound world of Syrian and Arabic music meets that of the Big Band.

Programme:
Soulima
"Soulaima" is a renowned love song from Syria dating back to the 1950s. It was written by Nawfal Elias and composed by Khaled Abou Alnasr.

Ma Li Aini Absart
"Ma Leini Absarat" is a traditional song from Aleppo composed by the legendary musician Omar Albatch, from the early twentieth century. His exceptional use of the major scale to evoke emotions in this rarely used scale is a masterpiece.

Hatiha Ya Sah
"Mouwashah Hatiha Ya Sah" is a classical Arabic piece by Adnan Abou Alshamat, a musician from Damascus who passed away a decade ago. Interestingly, he attended a concert where this piece was performed with a big band arrangement.

Ayyam Shamieh (2 songs)
"Ayyam Shamieh" or "Damascene Days" is a traditional song from Damascus, written in the Damascene dialect, capturing the light-heartedness and respect with which the people of Damascus treat one another.

Nawait Aseibak (I decided to leave you)
"Nawait Aseibak" is a traditional song from the mid-twentieth century, composed by Kamil Shampeir from Aleppo

Salam Min Saba Barada (regards from Barada)
"Salam Min Saba Barada" is a piece by the famous Egyptian poet Ahmad Shawqi. It was composed and sung by the legendary Egyptian artist Abdul Wahab in the 1940s, celebrating the Barada River, a significant waterway in Damascus

Bein Qassioun Wa Rabwa (Between the mountain Qassioun and the river Barada)
"Bein Qassioun Wa Rabwa" is a classical Arabic composition by the legendary composer from Aleppo, Omar Albatch. It pays homage to the iconic mountain and river of Damascus.

Ghafnouhou alma Alghazal (Her eyebrow teaches Ghazal)
"Ghafnouhou Allama Alghazal" is a famous song penned by the legendary poet Beshara Alkhoury and composed and performed by the iconic Egyptian musician Abdul Wahab. The song is a tribute to love.

Solists:
Abeer Albatal - Syrian vocalist
Kinan Abuakel - buzuq

WEST END BIG BAND:
Gerard Kleijn | conductor
Saxophones:
Marten Japenga
Marga de Rooij
Guus van der Meer
Yond Boeke
Cora Hollema
Trumpets:
Jeanette Scholder
Jos van der Park
Romain Gachot
Joan Boeke
Trombones:
Gertjan Huiskes
Pieter Troost
Hans Kolfschoten
Pieter Jongert
Rhythm:
Sjors Mol | piano
Murdoch Bentvelzen | guitar
Philip Beerendonk | bass
Tim Ouw | drums

Links:
Culture Unlimited Festival
West End Big Band