The New York Arabic Orchestra
The 35-piece New York Arabic Orchestra presents contemporary instrumental compositions by Bassam Saba, along with selections of Arabic vocal and instrumental music of Lebanon, Syria and Egypt. The NYAO is comprised of the ‘ud (Arabic lute), nay (Arabic reed flute), qanun (Arabic zither), Arabic percussion, strings, woodwinds, lead vocalists and chorus. Known throughout the U.S. and abroad as one of Arabic music’s finest conductors, Bassam Saba has led the NYAO to prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center and has developed an authentic sound that is regarded around the world.
The orchestra consists of professional musicians of a rich variety of backgrounds, many of who have dedicated over four years of weekly practice and intense study. Such committed membership represents the heart of fiber of the orchestra, built upon a collective of multi-faceted, passionate individuals who have devoted a large part of their lives to the exploration of the Arabic culture.
Mission
The New York Arabic Orchestra is an educational institute dedicated to the classical study of Arabic music in the greater New York Metropolitan area, providing regular weekly practice and instruction to its members, as well as public concerts, educational workshops, public school programs, and college residencies.
Vision
The vision of the New York Arabic Orchestra is to be housed in a dedicated center for instruction of Arabic music in New York. Such space would allow the creation of an Arabic music school, or a full standard music curriculum ranging from performance to theory, available to the public. This would mimic the intensity of any music program in a U.S. college, or an Arabic music curriculum such as those offered in certain parts of the Arab World. The New York Arabic Orchestra additionally strives to expand its reach beyond New York, holding concerts and educational presentations throughout the Middle East, Europe, Far East and the U.S.
Performance
The New York Arabic Orchestra's rich repertoire comprises three major branches. The orchestra performs innovative interpretations of pieces from the classical Arabic repertoire working with forms such as Sama’i, Bashraf and Muwashah. It also features works by distinguished modern composers such as Mohammad Abdel Wahhab, The Rahbani Brothers, Farid al Atrach and Marcel Khalifeh. The orchestra's signature lies in the performance of Saba's original compositions and arrangements, contemporary Arabic suites that touch upon influences of Western arrangement while inextricably rooted to the traditions of Arabic classical and folk music. Saba’s composition of 2011, Fantasie for Oud and Orchestra, is a 25-minute contemporary Arabic work celebrating the historical bridge between the Arab and Spanish musical traditions, premiered at Symphony Space in New York City. This piece follows an annual succession of original compositions including Wonderful Land and Waltz to my Father (2006), Breeze from the South and Chou Kan Helo (2007), Nirvana (2008), and Summer of ‘71 (2009). Many of the pieces have been incorporated into Simon Shaheen’s Annual Arabic Music Retreat in both the large orchestra and chamber ensembles; are featured on the album Wonderful Land (2010); and are performed at venues around the world. Nirvana was performed by Saba and Quincy Jones’ All-Star band in Morocco in May 2011, and with the New York Arabic Orchestra at Lincoln Center, Damrosch Bandshell in August 2011.
Education
The New York Arabic Orchestra is divided into two branches; performance and education. The educational mission of the NYAO is to provide the New York Metropolitan area with year-round tutelage in Arabic music. The curriculum includes weekly rehearsals, supplementary courses in Arabic music theory, and private instruction. Externally, the New York Arabic Orchestra brings workshops and lecture-demonstrations to universities, public schools, and cultural centers nationally and abroad, taught by Bassam Saba and core musicians within the orchestra.
Public school programs of note include Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Connect and Musicians For Harmony's "Music of the World," which features the NYAO's Arabic music youth program for ages 12-18 throughout Brooklyn, Harlem, Queens and the Bronx. The NYAO has hosted residencies and lecture-demonstrations at music schools such as Berklee College, and conventions such as the Taipei Chinese Orchestra (TCO) Silk Road International Conference in Taiwan. The NYAO incepted the Arabic Music Semester Intensive (AMSI) in January 2010, a monthly workshop series that has visited Arab cultural centers of Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Minneapolis and Dearborn; New York's French Institute-Alliance Franciase (FIAF); and Taipei, Taiwan.
