The Ensemble
The SK Near East Music Ensemble
is a group of culturally diverse
musicians dedicated to
delivering captivating
performances while
preserving the cultural
integrity and historical
richness of Middle
Eastern music and dance. Founded
and led by Grammy®-nominated
percussionist Souhail Kaspar,
this ensemble has been
delighting
audiences in Southern California
and beyond since 2007 at music
festivals, concerts, and
university events.
The Music
The group performs the
classical, modern, and folkloric
music of the
Middle East and North Africa,
bringing exacting artistry to
authentic,
traditional performances.
Dancers join the ensemble to
accentuate
the music with a bodily
interpretation of the melodies
and rhythms in
the traditional dance styles of
Egyptian raqs al-sharqi, Turkish
style
belly dance, Lebanese debke and
Arabian Khaliji.
The Instruments
The musicians perform primarily
on traditional instruments of
the
Middle East, with additional
accents from European
instruments.The traditional instruments
include: oud (lute), nay (reed
flute),
qanun (lap harp), darabuka
(Egyptian tablah), dohulah
(Egyptian
bass tablah), riqq (Egyptian
tambourine), and frame drum.
Other
instruments may include: violin,
viola, cello, upright bass.
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