Reheasals and Closing Concert

"Begis" is a troubadour melody by an anonymous author out of the Middle Ages. The music in the European Middle Ages is very closely related to contemporary Arab music. Parallels and mutual origins together with their differing developments, however, are very easy to demonstrate.

The Religious Suite from Syria, originates from the 6th. Century AD. Here various singers present many very different religious songs with instrumental accompaniment:

Eva-Margerita Geißler (Germany) sings a Christian text. Agfan Afifi (Egypt) interprets an Islamic text. Katja Weise has herseif composed a Christian text for this piece. Abir Nehme recites an Arab-Christian text in the Aramaic language from the time of Christ.

"Land der Schatten" ("Land of the Shadows") was composed specially for the "Orient-Occident" project by Houtaf Khoury (Lebanon) for a western orchestra. The piece is dedicated to cities destroyed by war such as Beirut, Dresden, and Leipzig.

Several musicians, who are devoting their studies to western music, were invited from Lebanon. The Concerto Grosso by Vivaldi gave them an opportunity to rehearse an important work in the western repertoire together with European students under the direction of a European conductor (Volker Biesenbender). Ali Hassan (Lebanon) played the part of the first violin.

"Ya Dara Douri Fina" is a Syrian piece, made famous by the renowned Lebanese singer Fairuz and interpreted here by Abir Nehme.

The Ballet Suite by the Egyptian composer Abdel Rahmin concerns an Egyptian saga about the lovers Hassan and Naima. The second movement is a lament by Naima, who mourns Hassan.

"Leila" is a work by one of the three great Egyptian musicians of a bygone generation: Bamid el Abdah. The composer came from a Syrian noble family and was forced to abandon his native country in order not to dishonour his family. He became one of the most eminent musicians during his exile in Egypt.

Mouwacha "Ya Bahjatal' rouh" is a song by the Egyptian composer Mudnaka Mohammed Abdul Mohem, who died some 20 years ago and sung here by Agfan Afifi.

Eva Margerita Geißler wrote the piece called "growing into sabah" over a period before and during the project. It describes the process of getting to know one another.

"Khanin", a traditional piece from Syria, was adopted by Dima Mawazani for western instruments. The title means "homesickness".

The Longa Nahawand and the Longa Jazz were composed by Alfred Gamil (member of the team of lecturers) to make it easier for western musicians to get to know the Arab style with its ciffenrent modes, rhythms and improvisations.