Art of Taqaseem workshopTaqaseem Workshop: The Art of Improvisation in Arabic Music

Special Guest Instructor Riad Abdel-Gawad

Taqaseem is the celebrated and cherished musical form of improvisation of Arabic speaking peoples in the Middle East and North Africa. How did Arab musical tradition maintain its staying power for almost one-and-a-half millennia? This workshop will divulge the secret ingredients of improvisation which is the driving force behind this continually scintillating and surprising music that is called Arabic music.

It is open to intermediate and advanced musicians (any instrument) and vocalists. Pre-registrants, $40, $45 at the door. The workshop takes place at Levantine Cultural Center on May 22, from 1-4 pm. To register, call 310.657.5511.

Riad Abdel-Gawad: composer, violinistRiad Abdel-Gawad's ensemble, Riad & Takht, is one of the rarest ensembles in the world in which all of the main classical instruments of the Middle East are combined together.

Abdo Dagher and Riad Abdel-GawadAbdel-Gawad is a disciple of Abdo Dagher, the legendary accompanist of Oum Kalsoum. He is the composer and violinist of the award-winning and the critically-acclaimed recording, El Tarab El Aseel, Pure Ecstasy. Currently Abdel-Gawad's "postmodern" and "authentic" compositional styles cross-fertilize mutually from the "East" and the "West" in terms of musical techniques and forms. His music is being programmed and listened to on US, Canadian and European radio programs that spin such so-called musical genres as "new age meditative/world beat" and tarab—"enchantment". In fact, El Tarab El Aseel literally translates as autochthonic enchantment. Complete bio.

Open to intermediate and advanced instrumentalists and singers of all ages. Singers will learn the fundamentals of performing the equivalent form for singers: the layali—"oh night". Workshop participants will receive note-by-note rhythm-by-rhythm instruction for improvising in tones that can be found on the piano as well as the famed Arabs' micro-tones. Workshop participants will also receive recording of workshop for practice later at home.

Visit Riad Abdel-Gawad's web site. See his myspace page to listen to more music.