Amidst the Chaos and Crisis of War in the Middle East, Music Will Prevail

News provided by

Lebanese National Conservatory of Music (LNCM)

Jan 22, 2016, 11:59 ET

BEIRUT, January 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

In the most volatile of times, and amidst an increasing fear of all out war in the Middle East, an unprecedented musical collaboration is about to take place in Beirut- as a testimony to the resilience of the human spirit and as a token of peace.

The only Jazz Orchestra in the Middle East, the Big Band of the Lebanese National Conservatory of Music (LNCM), in collaboration with New York-based hard bop jazz trumpeter, and multiple Grammy Award Winner Michael Mossman, and world renowned Oud Master (Middle Eastern Lute) Charbel Rouhana, will present a free Big Band Jazz concert on January 26^th, as a statement of cooperation between several nationalities all suffering one way or the other from the plight of refugees.

This event will take place at the USJ Abu Khater Theater, near the National Museum, in Beirut Lebanon – a nation now surrounded by the worse refugee crisis in the Middle East since World War II resulting from the ongoing brutal civil war in bordering Syria.

“Music is the meeting place and the common denominator among humanity, even during wartime”, explains lead Alto Saxophone player and Big Band manager Thomas Hornig, a native of Minnesota, USA and longtime Beirut resident. “Somewhere between Lebanon, the United Sates, Syria and the rest of the world, people of all stripes will always meet over music. It is our differences which make us strong and give us hope.”

Horning, who has toured extensively throughout Lebanon, Syria, the Gulf States, North Africa, Europe and the USA, was initially inspired to organize the concert when meeting many Syrian musicians who are now refugees in Lebanon. Their new life is in stark contrast to the culturally rich history of Syrian society, which before the war enjoyed a robust international arts and music scene.

The unprecedented crisis in Syria has forced over 1 million refugees to flee the brutality and bloodshed of their homeland and take shelter in Lebanon. The Big Band of the Lebanese National Conservatory, whose 19 professional musicians hail from many different nations, was formed just around the start of the Syrian civil war and is a reflection of the extraordinarily cosmopolitan and hospitable nature of Lebanese society.

This world premiere performance of the Oud accompanying a Jazz Orchestra was made possible by Mr. Pierre Doumet, President of Jabal Moussa, part of the UNESCO Global Network of Biosphere Reserves. Doumet commissioned the music and brought all musicians from around the globe together for this highly unique collaboration.

Members:

Charbel Rouhana - Composer, Oud , Vocals
Thomas Hornig - Band Manager, Alto Saxophone / Flute
Alin Tataru - Alto Sax / Flute
Nidal Abou Samra - Tenor Sax
Bruno Mokbel - Bari Sax
Elias Mouallem - Tenor Sax
Ion Todei - Trumpet
Viaceslav Bilia - Trumpet
Paissios Metny - Trumpet
Hayssam Mehbani - Trumpet
Florinel Barladeanu - Trombone
Alexandru Tapes - Trombone
Igor Vataman - Trombone
Ruslan Plamadeala - Trombone
Iurie Postolachi - Tuba
Christopher Ibrahim - Piano
Joseph Aouad - Guitar
Ruedi Felder - Acoustic Bass
Fouad Afra - Drums

PROGRAM:

1. Siwar - Arr. John Yao
2. Dangerous Woman - Arr. Suhee Choi
3. Rosana - Arr. Suhee Choi
4. Playful Dream - Arr. Doug Pierce
5. Mada (Co-Composed by Hani Siblini) Arr. Doug Pierce
6. Sleepless Nights - Arr. Lukas Pfeil
7. 13th of July - Arr. Suhee Choi
8. Kenet Lyem - Arr. Suhee Choi
9. Ahla Hdiye - Arr. Suhee Choi
10. Coffee - Arr. Doug Pierce
11. Flamenco - Michael Mossman