On April 30, 2011 Al-Bustan and Trinity Center for Urban Life presented Maron Khoury, Hugh Sung, and the Philadelphia Arab Music Ensemble in an Evening of Western and Arab Classical Music. The program showcased a high caliber of music from both traditions and was attended by a diverse audience of 100 people.
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The evening opened with Hanna Khoury, Violinist and Music Director of Philadelphia Arab Music Ensemble, introducing the Arab repertoire. He explained some differences between Arab and Western music, noting that while the violin is integral to both traditions, it is tuned differently to play Arab music. The notation is a lot freer and up to one’s own interpretation in Arab music.
The Ensemble opened with Watani Habibi, a composition by Egyptian Mohammed Abdel-Wahhab, written as an ode to the pan-Arab nationalist movement in 1960 when it was originally performed by seven singers from seven Arab countries. The Ensemble followed with Yallee Zaratu El-Burtuan by Mohammed Abdel-Wahab, and Nassam Alayna, a Rahbani Brothers composition for legendary Lebanese singer Fairuz. The audience was then delighted to hear the Ensemble perform a reprise of the song Rakwet Arab from the memorable March 13 concert honoring Marcel Khalife.
Hanna Khoury then introduced the evening’s featured guest, his brother Maron Khoury. Maron was appointed to the second flute position at the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in New York City at age 20, and now a year and half later is a tenured member of the Orchestra. Maron started to play the flute at the age of 11; three years after which he was admitted to the Curtis Institute to study with renowned flutist Jeffrey Khaner from 2005 to 2009.
Accompanying Maron Khoury was Hugh Sung, pianist at The Curtis Institute of Music. They began with Sonata for Flute and Piano in E major “Undine” Opus 167 by Carl Reinecke. The duo then dazzled the audience with Fantaisie Sur Le Freischutz composed by Taffanel and Saint-Saens’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso Op.28. Maron performed two encores, ending on a fast paced note with his superb performance of Flight of the Bumble Bee by Rimsky-Korsakov.
As a culminating finale, Maron Khoury joined Hanna Khoury and master percussionist Hafez El Ali Kotain with instrumentalists of The Philadelphia Arab Music Ensemble in a fantastic performance of Dance Mediterranea, a composition by Palestinian composer/musician Simon Shaheen. The works of Shaheen incorporate the legacy of classical Arabic music while embracing elements of American jazz including improvisation. Maron, Hanna, and Hafez each wowed the crowd with their improvisations and brought many in the audience to their feet in awe. The symbiosis of Arab and Western traditions that this piece exemplifies was the perfect end to an enjoyable and educational evening. Thank you to all who joined us!
See videos of select pieces…
Maron Khoury and Hugh Sung perform Fantaisie sur le Freischutz
Maron Khoury and Hugh Sung perform Minuet and Badineri
Maron Khoury and Hanna Khoury perform Dance Mediterranea with Philadelphia Arab Music Ensemble
