ASIL ENSEMBLE for Contemporary Arabic Classical Music
Founded by Mustafa Said in 2003, Asil Ensemble is dedicated to creating and performing contemporary Arabic classical music rooted in the living tradition of the Arabic maqam. Rather than borrowing from external musical systems, the ensemble develops new repertoire through the internal evolution of Arabic music, continuing and renewing a tradition that has often been overshadowed by imported musical models over the past century.
Asil has produced many works inspired by poetry, history, literature, and musical research. With more than 12 instruments, the ensemble offers a truly new perspective on Arabic music, expanding its spectrum of interpretation, collaboration, vocal traditions, and experimentation with acoustic sounds as well as musical concepts.
The ensemble has released five acclaimed albums: Ruba'eyyat Al-Khayyam (2008), Asil (2009), Burda (2015), Autism (2016), and Zuwwar Al-Maqam (2023).
Asil Ensemble has performed extensively at leading international festivals, including the International Mugam Festival in Azerbaijan; where it received the award for the Best Contemporary Classical Music (2009), Fes Festival of World Sacred Music (2011–2012); Festival dei Due Mondi in Italy (2015), Irtijal Festival in Lebanon (2015), Shubbak Festival in the UK (2015), Beirut Chants Festival in Lebanon (2015–2016), International Mugam Festival in Azerbaijan (2023), and Al-Ghurra Festival in Qatar (2024).
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