(Photo: Part of promotional material from ROOM)
The contemporary instrumental Waslas, composed by Mohamed Antar and in accordance with classical rules, will be performed on ney and oud at Room Art Space and Elbet Alwan.
The musicians will also be talking about the structure of Waslas, maqams and rhythms, making theory and history a part of the aesthetic experience.
In a musical scene flooded by fusion projects, the 37-year-old Egyptian composer and ney player Mohamed Antar chose to carry on with what he calls "the true mazika qadima" (old music), in reference to the classical Arabic tradition of Mohamed Othman and Ismail Dede.
"I seek to develop the Arabic music with the least possible influence from unrelated musical traditions," Antar told Ahram Online.
Mohamed Antar teaches and performs in Egypt and internationally, spreading the Arabic classical music tradition from London to Tokyo, and from Istanbul to Dubai.
In two upcoming concerts, Antar will present his programme together with his foreign disciple Dimitry Al-Rusi in a number of cultural and art venues in Cairo.
"I want to see whether the Egyptian audience is ready to reclaim its heritage," Antar said.
Programme:
Friday 18 September, 8pm
Room Arts Space, 10 Etehad Al Mohamin St, Garden City, Cairo
Friday 2 October, 8pm
Elbet Alwan, 15 Ahmed Heshmat St, Zamalek, Cairo
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