Vocalist
Yara joined pioneering Oxford Maqam ensemble in 2009 and has performed both in the UK and internationally. Most of her sung repertoire is of the Egyptian wasla tradition of the mid to late 19th century, singing taqtuqa, muwashshah and dawr forms by Egyptian composers including Zakariyya Ahmad, Dawud Husni, Abd al-Rahim al-Maslub and Mohammad Osman.
Following her work on Munira Al-Mahdiyya (c.1885-1965), an Egyptian commercial recording and musical theatre star, Yara and Oxford Maqam recently performed Munira's rarely heard songs Suburt w Nult and Isma' Aghani Al-Mahdiyya. Reviving songs unheard for many decades is a special interest of the ensemble. In 2016 they performed the dawr Min Yawm ‘Arift Al-Hub, recording it on a wax cylinder phonograph for the first time.
Arab musicians of the mid 20th century have also had a significant influence on Yara's performances. Oxford Maqam have performed classics from this so-called 'golden era', including Riyad Al-Sunbati's Lahn al Wafa and Mohamed Abdel Wahab's Majnun Layla with Oxford Maqam's Big Band.
Yara also studies the vocal repertoire of early 20th century Palestinian musical tradition and has performed across the UK with multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Kareem Samara and qanunist and ethnomusicologist Dr Martin Stokes. She has a special interest in pre-1948 lyrics and forms, inspired by the scholarship of Palestinian composer and musicologist Dr Issa Boulos.
More on Oxford Maqam
Pioneering Oxford Maqam comprises vocalists and musicians who are renowned experts in their field of Egyptian music and song of the 19th and 20th centuries. They first met over ten years ago, and now regularly sell out venues both at home and internationally, taking their album tour from London's Kings Place and the Kuwait Opera House. Their debut album, described as ‘revolutionary’ by Songlines magazine, used recording techniques from over one hundred years ago. Offering fresh and entertaining recreations, they have captured the imaginations of UK, Europe and Middle Eastern audiences alike. Whilst the Arabic music scene is filled with innovators of popular music, Oxford Maqam are innovators of classical Arabic music. Their recovery and revival of heritage works is a highly original process, and their concerts offer a rare opportunity to experience live renditions of a music steeped in Arab heritage.
Following her work on Munira Al-Mahdiyya (c.1885-1965), an Egyptian commercial recording and musical theatre star, Yara and Oxford Maqam recently performed Munira's rarely heard songs Suburt w Nult and Isma' Aghani Al-Mahdiyya. Reviving songs unheard for many decades is a special interest of the ensemble. In 2016 they performed the dawr Min Yawm ‘Arift Al-Hub, recording it on a wax cylinder phonograph for the first time.
Arab musicians of the mid 20th century have also had a significant influence on Yara's performances. Oxford Maqam have performed classics from this so-called 'golden era', including Riyad Al-Sunbati's Lahn al Wafa and Mohamed Abdel Wahab's Majnun Layla with Oxford Maqam's Big Band.
Yara also studies the vocal repertoire of early 20th century Palestinian musical tradition and has performed across the UK with multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Kareem Samara and qanunist and ethnomusicologist Dr Martin Stokes. She has a special interest in pre-1948 lyrics and forms, inspired by the scholarship of Palestinian composer and musicologist Dr Issa Boulos.
More on Oxford Maqam
Pioneering Oxford Maqam comprises vocalists and musicians who are renowned experts in their field of Egyptian music and song of the 19th and 20th centuries. They first met over ten years ago, and now regularly sell out venues both at home and internationally, taking their album tour from London's Kings Place and the Kuwait Opera House. Their debut album, described as ‘revolutionary’ by Songlines magazine, used recording techniques from over one hundred years ago. Offering fresh and entertaining recreations, they have captured the imaginations of UK, Europe and Middle Eastern audiences alike. Whilst the Arabic music scene is filled with innovators of popular music, Oxford Maqam are innovators of classical Arabic music. Their recovery and revival of heritage works is a highly original process, and their concerts offer a rare opportunity to experience live renditions of a music steeped in Arab heritage.
