The Blog
The blog was active between 2010 and 2013, and discusses the many topics related to Middle Eastern bass playing.
CD “Double Bass East” now ready for download
I am happy to tell you that my CD “Double Bass East” is finally digitized and ready for you to
Learn the Maqamat
...It is still hard to find good structured ‘academic’ material about the theory of the Maqamat, and there is no
Spy Work for Musicians
When I was looking for visuals for my article on the double bass and Middle Eastern music I found this
Hearing the Quarter-Tones
"The awkwardness grew even more when I played simple kids songs they know, and put some quarter tones in them
BASS2012 Copenhagen
Two events coming up at the next BASS1012 Copenhagen: Middle Eastern double bass recital, and the next Middle Eastern workshop
Double Bass and Orchestra – the Middle Eastern Version
The phenomenon of the Israeli Andalusian orchestras is fascinating. There are at least two big orchestras with a large subscription
From the teachings of Prof. Dalia Cohen
It has been a long time since I wrote here, and many good things happened to tell about. One of
The Next Generation
I have written here about the “Mediterranean Musical Dialogue” seminar, and I am happy to report that my bass class
Start Listening
Whether it is by email or in person from my own students, and so many times from players after every
Mediterranean Musical Dialogue
The “Mediterranean Musical Dialogue” is a four-day seminar for musicians who want to delve into the world of Mediterranean music.
Hands on Experience
Imagine showing your students a totally different way of playing the bass, that is still based on the same principals
Eastern Positions for the Double Bass
The “eastern positions” for the double bass are a way to execute the micro tonality, or ‘quarter tones’*, that are
Mr. Karr, Would You Teach Me How to Drive a Double Bass?
Mr. Karr, Would You Teach Me How to Drive a Double Bass? My teacher Dr. Michael Klinghoffer has published his
Study Abroad at the JAMD’s Oriental Music Division
Jerusalem Sounds – a new program for studying abroad in Israel: The Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance (JAMD) and
Who’s afraid of Oum Kulthum?
Or: Thoughts about encountering Middle Eastern music When we discuss the double bass in Middle Eastern music, we almost always
Arabic Music and the Audience
Traditional Arabic music includes a unique and inseparable connection between the performer and the audience. Due to the improvisational nature
Bottesini in Cairo
The traditional Arabic music of our day has definitely evolved partly under the influence of the inevitable contact with western
Ornamentation in Arabic Music
One of the challenges we face when playing the double-bass as a solo instrument in Arabic music, even before the
A Brief History of Arabic Music up to the 20th Century
The history of Arabic music can be divided into several main periods. The first is the pre-Islamic period – the
The Double Bass and Middle Eastern Music- Introduction
Update: This was the first of a series of posts explaining how the double bass was accepted into the ensembles
Classical Arabic Music Primary Terms
Here are a few Important Primary terms of classical Arabic music. This list is taken from my yet unpublished paper “Introduction
Upcoming shows
I don’t usually do that, but this time its very exciting for me: I have two concerts with Oud master
“Soon to come” post
The next series of posts will be dedicated to the question “what made the double bass get accepted into the music
Fuad Abbas
Umm Kulthum, “the star of the east”, had enormous influence on the entire Arab world, and is considered the greatest traditional Arab