Riad's December Newsletter :: Riad & Takht

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Riad & Takht

Levantine Cultural Center Live Salon Event!

Riad's December 2009 Newsletter

December 29, 2009

Musicar Riad at Levantine Cultural Center Event

Visible: Howard Gordan (l), and Barrie Osborne (r); Mark Amin (behind performer; unfortunately not visible here), Reza Aslan (unfortunately not visible here; seated in front of microphone stand)

In this newsletter, read monthly blog about Arabic music and listen to Musicar Riad's el Tarab el Aseel album and watch video excerpts from Riad's performances.

I was deeply honored to perform two taqaseem at a private dinner organized by Jordan Elgrably, writer and artist director of the Levantine Cultural Center. Following the food and the music, a discussion wonderfully-moderated by author and media personality Reza Aslan ensued. Three of Hollywood's biggest producers and creators were there: Mark Amin, Howard Gordon, and Barrie Osborne. They shared their insights about how art, politics, and the business of film and television may contribute to building bridges between America and the Middle East.

At the Office for Cultural & Educational Affairs at the Egyptian Consulate

I was honored to have been asked to play for Dr. Nebal El Tanbouli, director of Cultural & Educational Affairs at the Egyptian Consulate in Montreal.

Blog: "Arabic music and writings about music blossomed in the first centuries of Islam. Absorbing elements from preceding civilizations and producing new elements, Arabs created a new and enduring musical art which flourished from the Iberian to the Qatari peninsulas. Muslim ideals and organization facilitated Greek and Latin translations and Arabic innovative writings about the sciences of stars and medicine and the metaphysics of the soul and the supernatural. All of which profoundly influenced medieval Europe’s apprehension of human knowledge that set in motion its own Renaissance."

Riad

Below, last month's festival video.