Olivia Jageurs showcased musicians little known to western audiences on Friday with an online concert of music by Muslim composers to mark Eid Al Fitr.
The range was wide — from jazz greats to music composed by Ottoman sultans, as well as a new style of Muslim pop that is taking hold around the world, from Sweden to Indonesia.
“The audience that normally attends my concerts didn’t know any Muslim composers. When I asked them to send their song requests, the only artist they knew was Cat Stevens,” she said, referring to the British songwriter and convert to Islam, who is now known as Yusuf Islam.
The concert was inspired by her recent trips to the Middle East as a concert harpist. In December last year, she played alongside Max Richter at the Dior catwalk show at the Pyramids of Giza, and with Qatari composer Dana Al Fardan at the World Cup in Doha.
“That’s how I was introduced to Middle Eastern instruments and music,” she said.
Harps have a long history in the Middle East, said Jageurs, admitting that playing scales popular in regional music was her biggest challenge.
“The ancient Egyptians played the benet, or bow harp,” she added.
The qanun, a flat string instrument used in Middle East music, may have evolved from the bow harp.
“It’s like a flat, horizontal harp.”
Her line-up began with American jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal, who passed away this week. This was followed by The Wedding, by South African jazz composer Abdullah Ibrahim.
“I love the harmonies and the simplicity of the piece — it’s very romantic,” she said.
Then, she moved on to contemporary classical music by Dana Al Fardan, with songs from her musical Rumi.
“The story she is telling with this musical is specific to the region and she mixes Middle Eastern and western influences,” said Jageurs, who will be returning to Doha to play with the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra in May.
The concert also showcased historical Muslim composers in classical music. In the courts of the Ottoman Empire, European musical genres such as waltzes, polkas and marches were popular.
Italian musicians, such as Callisto Guatelli Pasha, were employed to teach the rulers and their children the various musical styles.
For this reason, Jagueurs played Hicazkar Sirto by Sultan Abdulaziz, who ruled in the 19th century.
“It’s a fun, dance-like piece in the rondo form, where you go back to the same refrain after each section,” she said.
Jageurs previously collaborated with Iranian chang player Rahele Firouzi on a duet to showcase the differences and similarities between the Middle Eastern and western harps.
“The strings all look the same, but instead of the sound board being near your body as it is with western harp, with the chang, the sound board runs diagonally away from your head,” she said.
She even attempted a Lebanese dabka, traditional dance music, during the concert.
“Quarter tones aren’t possible on the harp, unless you pre-tune them. On a wind instrument like the clarinet, you can suspend the pitch more easily,” she said.
Muslim composers of classical music also rose to prominence in the Soviet Union. The Azerbaijani composer Muslim Magamayev wrote the propaganda opera Nargiz in 1935, and was also known for collecting Azerbaijani folk songs.
“Nargiz is interesting because it isn’t traditionally operatic, it sounds more jazzy and not of its time,” she said.
Around the world, Muslim pop singers are bringing faith into their music.
Indonesian singer-songwriter Opick is known for his songs with religious themes, such as the country-style 2012 song Ramdan Tiba, which Jagueurs played during the concert.
In Sweden, songwriter Maher Zain sings religiously inspired songs to R&B music.
“I feel so alive; it’s like my soul thrives in your light,” sings Zain, in his 2013 song Ramadan.
Among the final pieces in the concert was Yusuf Islam's 1971 Peace Train, which became a cult anti-war song during the Vietnam War.
Decades later, the artist commented on the song’s renewed relevance after the 2003 Iraq invasion.
“Although that was the only artist my audience knew before, now they know many more,” said Jageurs.
She will be playing more work by Muslim composers such as Mohammed Oweda and Candra Bangun Setyawan at an online concert on May 12, which showcases new compositions for the harp.
More information can be found here: www.harpyhour.co.uk
Off-roading in the UAE: How to checklist
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Things Heard & Seen
Directed by: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, James Norton
2/5
SHAITTAN
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Sam Smith
Where: du Arena, Abu Dhabi
When: Saturday November 24
Rating: 4/5
Bharat
Director: Ali Abbas Zafar
Starring: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sunil Grover
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Company%20Profile
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
How%20champions%20are%20made
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The specs
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Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
Mubalada World Tennis Championship 2018 schedule
Thursday December 27
Men's quarter-finals
Kevin Anderson v Hyeon Chung 4pm
Dominic Thiem v Karen Khachanov 6pm
Women's exhibition
Serena Williams v Venus Williams 8pm
Friday December 28
5th place play-off 3pm
Men's semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Anderson/Chung 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Thiem/Khachanov 7pm
Saturday December 29
3rd place play-off 5pm
Men's final 7pm
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
