The Arabic Studies Program Presents the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Arab Music Ensemble

THE ARABIC STUDIES PROGRAM AT MIDDLEBURY INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES AT MONTEREY PRESENTS THE CAL POLY SAN LUIS OBISPO ARAB MUSIC ENSEMBLE

APRIL 21, 2017
IRVINE AUDITORIUM
6:00-9:00 P.M.

CAL POLY ENSEMBLE
DIRECTOR : DR. KENNETH HABIB

The Cal Poly Arab Music Ensemble performs the art and popular music of a wide range of Arabic-speaking societies and historically related cultures while particularly focusing on the areas around the Eastern Mediterranean. Arab art music has intersected substantially with folk and religious musical traditions and has benefited deeply from the contributions of interconnected social groups including men and women of diverse ethnic, religious, and philosophical backgrounds. It also has connected historically to neighboring cultures of the larger region including those of Persian/Iranian and Ottoman/Turkish music. The repertoire of the Arab Music Ensemble comprises pieces ranging from the Ottoman era up to the present and includes some of the longest performed genres of music in the world. The ensemble also employs instruments adapted from Euro-American traditions including the bass, cello, accordion, guitar, and drum set as well as Latin percussion, brass, and other instrumentation.