Typical performance etiquette, like sitting quietly and clapping at the end of each piece, is not the norm in this upcoming concert. Students can look forward to interacting with the music differently at the Arab Music Ensemble Fall Concert on Dec. 7, according to music professor and the Director of Arab music ensemble Kenneth Habib.
“[Students will] be sitting next to people who are more actively engaged and will call out things from time to time, and enjoy it in a different way,” Habib said. “Maybe even get up and dance.”
This concert is a unique opportunity for students to experience the audience dynamics at a live performance of Arab and Armenian music. The first half of the concert will be performed by the Arab Music Ensemble.The second half will be performed by the Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble.
The Arab Music Ensemble will perform various genres of music, such as muwashshah which will be performed by the choirs. This genre originates in the south of Spain, but has traveled across Africa and Asia. Muwashshah is a genre of music, but also poetry.
“What’s most exciting to me is the concert’s bringing the music of Arab culture and West Asian North African culture to Cal Poly and to San Luis Obispo, which otherwise it doesn’t get to enjoy,” Habib said.
One of Habib’s favorite parts about directing the ensemble is working with the students.
For the concert, students have to learn to sing Arab or Armenian songs, which contain lyrics in a language unfamiliar to them.
“They have to make sounds that don’t exist in English,” Habib said.
He also added that rhythm and pitch differentiate Western music from Arab or Armenian music. For example, there are typically four beats per measure in Western music. In Arab music, there can be anywhere from five to 24 beats per measure.
Even with these challenges, Habib expressed being impressed by the hard work from his students.
“It’s afresh every quarter that I’m struck with how ready, willing and able students are ready to learn new music, just as they would learn a new language,” Habib said.
To experience this concert, learn more about the event and buy tickets at https://www.pacslo.org/events/detail/amefall24.
