Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture

What a success!

We set up Bodek Lounge anticipating an audience of two hundred, and quickly found that every seat was taken. Over sixty people had to stand in order to enjoy the Evening of Arab Music at U-Penn on Friday, December 4.

We at Al-Bustan thank the friends new and old who joined us to appreciate a quality of Arab music rarely found in this city.  We are strengthened by the palpable sense of community in the hall created by the talented musicians and the audience members with a mix of ages and affiliations.  After a taste of music that, as one audience member noted, “fed my soul,” people stayed to chat and were treated to a real feast of savory and sweet Arab food and drinks.

Master musicians Hanna Khoury (violin), Hafez El Ali Kotain (percussion), and Adeeb Refela (oud) performed instrumental pieces, giving audience members an intimate feel for Arab music.  The young drummers of the Al-Bustan Percussion Ensemble brought the house down with their percussion medley.  The debut of the newly formed Arab Music Ensemble was the highlight of the evening, with a sampling of Egyptian composer Mohammad Abdel Wahab’s repertoire, mixed with Rahbani Brothers’ “Nassam Alayna”, and a classical composition of “Sama’i Kurd” by Simon Shaheen.

One of the audience members, Yenche, remarked after the concert, “We had such a good time and were so glad to have had our first Arab music experience.  Aside from the truly inspiring performances, I was also heartened by the sense of community that the evening exuded.”

Majid Alsayegh, chairman of Intercultural Journeys who was a co-sponsor, exclaimed, “Congratulations on a great event! The performances were terrific, and the audience enthusiasm was also great! I always enjoy seeing the young people participate and perform so well. Kudos to Al-Bustan for all of the hard work to make it possible! Kudos to Hanna and to Hafez for their efforts with everyone!”

But don’t take our word for it: view the video edited by Joslyn Duncan, browse through the slideshows, and click here for an article from the University City Review.

Photos by Joslyn Duncan. . .

Photos by Hazami Sayed. . .

Thanks again to our Co-Sponsors: Intercultural Journeys, and the University of Pennsylvania’s Greenfield Intercultural Center, Penn Arab Student Society, Middle East Center, Music Department, and Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations.