World-renowned performer and composer Simon Shaheen will offer a lecture on Arabic music and a performance by the Simon Shaheen Quartet in late October. The Palestinian-American will speak on “Arabic Music” at 5 p.m. Oct. 20 in 132 Goldwin Smith Hall, and the Quartet will perform at 7 p.m. Oct. 21 in the Rhodes-Rawlings Auditorium in Klarman Hall. Both events are free and open to the public.

“Simon Shaheen is widely celebrated as a virtuoso violinist and oud player, incomparably creative composer and master teacher of Arab music. His brilliant interpretation of the Arabic music and his synthesis of it with other musical tradition are vehicles for engaging audiences with the beauty of Arabic culture,” said event host Ross Brann, the Milton Konvitz Professor of Judeo-Islamic Studies in the College of Arts & Sciences.

The Oct. 20 lecture will focus on four components that constitute Arab music in the Eastern Basin of the Mediterranean Sea, with concentration on Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and Iraq. Shaheen will offer an introduction to the features of the “maqam,” melodic mode and the “Iqa,” rhythmic mode used in Arab instrumental and vocal music; Arab musical instruments used in classical and rural settings; Arab musical forms; “zakhrafat,” the art of melodic embellishment; and “taqasim,” the art of improvisation.

At the Oct. 21 concert, Shaheen will offer a performance of Arabic music, playing violin and oud. The other members of the Simon Shaheen Quartet -- Firas Zreik, Tariq Rantisi and Rami Abuolaya – will play numerous instruments, including the qanun and ney.

Read the full story on the College of Arts and Sciences website.