On Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8, Al-Bustan hosted an Arab Music Weekend Workshop for musicians and music educators at Penn’s Greenfield Intercultural Center. Taught by Master Oud Player Issam Rafea and Master Percussionist Hafez El Kotain, participants were introduced to Arab modes and scales, Arabic songs and rhythmic cycles, and new material and approaches to bring to their music practice and teaching.
Fourteen participants came from as far away as San Diego and from as close as just two blocks away at the University of Pennsylvania. Within a group split almost equally between teachers and musicians, we overheard many conversations about music practice, pedagogy, and cross-cultural exchange between participants throughout the two days. Joining us were music teachers who wanted to bring new material and techniques into their classroom that would be resonant with not only their Arab students but students of all backgrounds. An accomplished oud player joined us from Maryland not for the string workshop but for Hafez’ percussion class because he wanted to “continue exploring and expanding on my knowledge of Arab music, and in order to round out my musical expertise, I really want to know more about percussion.” A Penn freshman brought her cello, and our youngest workshop participant, a high school student originally from Palestine, brought his oud—an instrument he is learning and had few opportunities to receive instruction in since leaving his home country. The diversity of experience, ages, languages spoken, and musical and cultural backgrounds shone throughout the weekend.
The workshop culminated in a Sunday afternoon recital featuring Master Artists and Workshop teachers Issam Rafea and Hafez El Kotain. Hafez and Issam treated audience members to improvisations on oud, riqq, and frame drum. Workshop participants were also able to showcase their new abilities in and insights into Arab music through a group performance. This recital not only celebrated workshop participants’ hard work and development, and Hafez’ and Issam’s extraordinary talent, but also the opening of Al-Bustan’s new event and program hub at 3645 Lancaster Ave. For the first time, we hosted a sit-down concert in our new space, opening the doors to over forty people. As the sun was setting, the group finished their performance to a standing ovation and closed out our first full weekend of programming in our new program space and an exciting year for Al-Bustan.
