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Al Firdaus Ensemble in Concert
From March 21, 2014 until March 30, 2014
Music which creates a fusion of Sufi, Classicial Andalusian and Turkish traditions accompanied by dancing dervishes March 27, 2014 - MADRID
Casa Árabe is presenting a concert by the Al Firdaus Ensemble, made up of six musicians who come from England, Spain and Morocco. Their music expresses the memory of the world we come from and the one we are headed towards. Their original compositions combine Western music with Celtic and flamenco influences, as well as arrangements of songs from the traditions of the Sufis, Al-Andalus and Turkey.
This group, which defends the values of interculturalism through its music, is the perfect accompaniment for the exhibition which Casa Árabe has organized along with the Embassy of Austria, in which we present the winning photographs from the competition held as part of the latest UNAOC Youth Event that took place right before the Global Forum of Vienna, the most important encounter on the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.
The concert will be taking place on Thursday, March 27 at 8:30 p.m. in the auditorium at our Madrid headquarters. Free entry until the event’s capacity is reached.
This group, which defends the values of interculturalism through its music, is the perfect accompaniment for the exhibition which Casa Árabe has organized along with the Embassy of Austria, in which we present the winning photographs from the competition held as part of the latest UNAOC Youth Event that took place right before the Global Forum of Vienna, the most important encounter on the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.
The concert will be taking place on Thursday, March 27 at 8:30 p.m. in the auditorium at our Madrid headquarters. Free entry until the event’s capacity is reached.
About the Musicians:
Ali Keeler, voice and violin
He is the founder of the Al Firdaus Ensemble, which came into existence in the year of 2012. Born in England, he began his violin studies at the age of just 7 and studied at the Manchester Conservatory. He resided in Syria for seven years, where he learned Arabic singing by receiving classes from master singer Mustafa Kariam. Since 2007, he has lived in Granada. He has formed part of the group Al Kauthar, taking part in important performances at the Festival of Sufi Culture in Fez (2011) or the Festival of the Music of Al-Andalus in Casablanca (2010).
Based on this combination of Arab tradition and his extensive experience with the violin, he has managed to create a personal style which combines Celtic, Arab, Andalusian and Turkish influences.
Omar Benlamlih, voice and percussion
Born in Casablanca, the city where he later studied singing and percussion at the conservatory, Benlamlih also learned Sufi singing, because he comes from a family of Sufi musicians and singers. He has performed in many European countries as a member of groups such as Tangeri Café Orchestra and Ensemble Turat Al Andalus, a group which he manages at the present time, combining different styles: Arabic-Andalusian, flamenco and jazz.
Yusuf El Mezghildi, qanun
A native of Tetouan, he studied at this city’s conservatory for ten years. There he learned about classical Andalusian music, as well as Arab and classical music, musical theory, Arab oud and piano. He later learned to play the qanun, as well, with the master Haj Ahmad Saidi. He has collaborated with several groups and singers from different countries and of different musical styles, such as Sufi, medieval, flamenco, classical Andalusian and Arab.
Radia Basira Morelada, voice
She studied psychology and different natural therapies such and sound therapy and sonotherapy. She also studied musical theory and piano at the conservatory of Toledo. Later, she learned about Overtones singing and was trained on this diphonic singing through the teachings of Xhoomei and Urtiin Du, songs of Mongol origin. She founded the group Taiga along with other colleagues, in which they combined folkloric and ethnic music, with influences from Mongolia and Central Asia.
Ahmed Sharif, dervish
In 2009, he met Oruc Juvent in Turkey, a Sufi master of the Mewlevi Order. In 2010, he joined the Tarica Nasbanqdi in Madrid, with which he has been practicing the dervish dancing technique. After completing several workshops and trips, he opened a studio at the Casita Verde in Madrid. Since 2012, he has been collaborating with Sheik Hassam Dyck and Sheik Abdul Wuahid on different Rabbani celebrations, workshops and Sufi festivals held in Madrid, Ávila and Gijón.
Wafir Sheikhuldin, Arab oud and percussion
A Sudanese musician with an important international career, he has collaborated with many groups of different styles, with his voice, accordion, ney and percussion instruments. He played with Radio Tarifa, a well-known flamenco-Arab fusion music group, for five years. He has recorded with Eduardo Paniagua in several successful albums, such as “Los jardines de al-Andalus.”
Ahmed Yahia Aitor Alarcón, guitar and bouzouki
In 2008, he earned the mid-level degree in classical guitar, and one year later his diploma in musical education. He plays different percussion instruments such as the bouzouki, drum, pandero tambourine and darbouka. He joined the medieval music group “El Mermicolión,” with which he has recorded an album. Since 2013, he has been combining his activity with this group and the Al Firdaus Ensemble, as well as teaching at various music academies.
