LISTENING
MAQAM PILGIRIMS زُوَّار المَقَام
A musical piece of unconditional love poetry, spanning over fifteen centuries. It is a blend of singing and instrumental music. The structure follows the idea of the traditional wasla (musical suite), not by strictly copying it, but by drawing on the cultural heritage and spirit it represents.
Recorded in Cairo, performed by Asil Ensemble for Contemporary Arabic Classical Music and released with the support of Aga Khan Music Programme in 2025.
ALNABA WAL GHAR النبع والغار
"AlNabâ walGhar’’
The Spring and the Grotto: A Dialogue with Nature
This album was recorded on the same day, in two locations, using two ouds, all improvised.
The first part was recorded at dawn, next to a water spring, in one of Aqourah peaks in mount Lebanon; approximately 2000 meters above sea level.
The second part was recorded later the same morning in a grotto extending more than 25 kilometers downhill from Aqourah, heading east towards the middle of the Beqaa Valley.
Released in 2024.
OUDS أعواد
A continuously evolving project featuring musical pieces performed on four ouds: bass oud, baritone oud, tenor oud, and soprano oud.
Each released track is performed by Mustafa Said on all four ouds and then layered into a single piece using a multitrack recording system.
The ouds were crafted by master oud makers Albert Mansour and Sebastian Stenzel.
Release: 2020 – ongoing
TASALI AL LAYALI تسالي الليالي
An ongoing series of instrumental and vocal pieces presented in the form of the Arabic Waslah, exploring the Arabic Maqam tradition, first released in 2019.
Each Waslah brings together selected instrumental and vocal pieces in a particular Maqam from the classical Arabic repertoire, alongside taqsim and vocal improvisations, performed by Mustafa Said (oud), Bilal Bitar (qanun), Firas ElAndari (violin), and Ali ElHout (riqq).
To date, 11 albums have been released, alongside individual releases featuring single pieces.
AUTISM (Twahhud) توحّد
Autism (Tawahhud) is a 48-minute contemporary Arabic classical music suite performed by the Asil Ensemble for Contemporary Arabic Classical Music. Produced by AMAR with the support of Culture Resource and released in 2016.
"While composing Tawahhud (Autism) I tried to strip myself from all superfluousness and removed all limits that lay between me and my true self and between me and society. I did not mean to punish myself, torment it, blame it or let any kept anger out. I meant more to lay myself bare to be able to see clearly all contradictions, complexities, simplicity, double-standards, decisiveness and hesitation, despair, hope and pessimism which all get together to make the most elevated and sophisticated thing this universe has ever witnessed, which is Man." Mustafa Said
BURDA بردة
The story of «Al-Burda» dates back to the 7th century, when the Prophet Muhammad is said to have offered the poet Ka‘b ibn Zuhayr his mantle (burda). This hadith inspired Imam Al-Būṣīrī in the 13th century to write his own «Burda». In the 19th century, Aḥmad Shawqī wrote «Nahj al-Burda».
In our time, the poet Tamim al-Barghouti wrote his own modern «Burda», from which Mustafa Said selected a number of verses, composed them into a musical work.
Burda was recorded live in Beirut, performed by Asil Ensemble for Contemporary Arabic Classical Music and released as an album by AMAR, with the support of the Abu Dhabi Festival and released in 2014.
ASIL أصيل
“New Composition from the Core of Tradition”
The interpretation of this tradition takes two forms, both developed from within. On the one hand, the ensemble centres its music on improvisation and variations on existing compositions; on the other, it draws on vocal recitation and instrumental Taqasim. These elements come together to form what is known as the Waslah.
Co-produced by Taqalid and Forward Music, Lebanon, 2010.
RUBAEIYAT EL KHAYYAM رباعيات الخيّام
This album sets out to achieve two main aims. The first is to remind us of the freedom of thought, open-mindedness, and cultural diversity that once flourished in the Levant and were among the main reasons for the flourishing of its civilisation. This truth cannot be denied; one need only listen to the quatrains of Al-Khayyam.
The second is to continue what our predecessors began: to reopen the doors of Ijtihad (interpretation) and to develop music from within the core of tradition.
Produced by Forward Music, Lebanon, 2008
RAWDAT AL BALABEL PODCAST مذياع روضة البلابل
Directed and adapted by Mustafa Said, 220 episodes has been released from 2013 to 2022. This podcast is a comprehensive exploration of classical Arabic music, its Maqam system, and history. Through four specialised parts, it brings together musical analysis, historical research, and practical knowledge to help listeners understand how Arabic music was composed, performed, transmitted, and developed over time.
Produced by AMAR Foundation and Sharjah Art Foundation.
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For collaborations and enquiries
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