The Canadian Arabic Orchestra and The Canadian Arabic Choir present “Mwashahat Wa Qudood” a selection of Classical Arabic songs with Andalusian flavors, composed by (Sayyed Darwish, Sabah Fakhry, Abdul Wahhab, Omar Al Batsh, Zakariyya Ahmad) on 28th January, 2017 at Aga Khan Museum Auditorium (77 Wynford Drive, Toronto, Ontario M3C 1K1) at 7.30 pm.
“One of the most magnificent gems in the history of Arabic music… The Mwashah, a word that comes from the word Wishah which literally means a scarf adorned with ornaments is a poetic form that originated in Andalusia during the tenth century. The poems of the Mwashah abandon the strict rhymes of Arabic poetry and follow colorful rhythms and just as the word implies, the music is decorated with beautiful melodic ornamentation. The Qudood came into being around the 18th century in Syria and were inspired by the mwashah although much simpler in form and rhythm. This music will take you back to majestic times, to the days of sultans and evenings of serenity and beauty…”
The Canadian Arabic Orchestra is a professional not-for-profit organization founded in 2014 by Wafa Al Zaghal and Lamees Audeh. Based in Mississauga, Ontario, the Orchestra is dedicated to connecting audiences with classical Arabic music while celebrating the freedom and diversity of Canada’s cultural landscape, and highlighting the relationship between Arabic and Western classical music traditions through concerts, lectures, and collaborations with other Canadian musical and cultural organizations.
The Canadian Arabic Choir was founded in September of 2015 by the Canadian Arabic Orchestra as an organization dedicated to familiarizing children with classical Arabic musical instruments. Seeking to serve as one of the main resources of Arabic music in North America, the Choir aims to provide audiences with new insights into the traditions and history of classical Arabic music.
Report by: Ariane Terveld
