Amman, June 13 — As part of Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation’s ongoing music program, the Maqam Ensemble performed a classical Arabic music evening on Thursday night at the Foundation’s outdoor venue in Jabal Amman.
Led by artist Tareq Al-Jundi, the ensemble presented a selection of songs and instrumental pieces drawn from the rich heritage of classical Arabic music.
Farah Abu Aishah said the Foundation launched its “Musical Evenings” program in early 2014 to highlight emerging Jordanian talent, honor leading musicians, and broaden access to diverse Arabic and international music.
Abu Aishah said the evening reflects the Foundation’s commitment to showcasing Arabic music in a unique setting and continuing concerts that enrich audiences and meet refined artistic tastes.
Tareq Al-Jundi drew attention to the importance of investing in younger generations by fostering a deeper engagement with their musical heritage—both vocal and instrumental. He noted that such efforts are essential to preserving and strengthening the identity of Arabic music, particularly through the performance and continued interpretation of works by both classical and contemporary composers.
The evening’s program featured a mix of instrumental and vocal performances. It opened with Sama‘i Bayat by Hassan Skaff (instrumental), followed by Habibti by Elias Rahbani (instrumental), and the overture to Al-Nahr Al-Khaled (instrumental). Vocal performances included Ya Musafira Bil-Bahr Jai Wadda‘ak performed by Abeer Al-Taher, and the traditional muwashshah Billathi Askar performed by Othman Majdalawi. Additional pieces included Qadiyat Al-‘Am Ahmad and Laylat Al-Qabd ‘ala Fatima (instrumental), Mays Al-Reem (instrumental), Marhaba by Göksel Baktagir (instrumental), Ya Jarati Layla by Mohammed Abdel Karim performed by Salsabil Al-Disi, Nawait Aseebak by Kamil Chambrie performed by Nars Khawaja, and Layla Law Baqi Layla by Abdul Rab Idris, during which the audience joined in singing. The program concluded with the overture to Alf Leila wa Leila by Baligh Hamdi (instrumental).
The Maqam Ensemble was established in 2024 at the Tareq Al-Jundi Academy for Arabic Music. It originated from a group of musicians who were recipients of Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation’s “Abd’a Award,” including Hazem Al-Tarawneh, Andre Shaya, Khaled Hamdan, Layla Azizi, Ramez Al-Fank, Omar Al-Bsheiti, and Wael Al-Qour. The ensemble has since expanded to include a wider group of young musicians dedicated to presenting Arabic musical heritage in a contemporary format that preserves its spirit while bringing it closer to modern audiences.