Maqām Festival- Multaqā Al-Mūsīqā Al-Maqāmiyya
Established to revive and celebrate the maqām musical traditions of West Asia, North Africa and Europe. While our base is rooted in Cairo, we collaborate with an extensive network of researchers, musicians, and institutions, including universities and cultural organizations across the Arab world and beyond. From this network, we have established a scientific and artistic board composed of dedicated scholars, experts and musicians, who guide our initiatives and ensure the integrity and depth of our work.
The term Multaqa ( مُلتقى ) signifies both a place and time for convergence. In the context of Maqām Festival, it embodies the gathering of artistic and cultural traditions of maqām music, serving as a unifying point for the shared artistic musical system of the Mašriq (West Asia and Egypt) and the Maghreb (North Africa), mainly.
The Maqām Festival combines academic and artistic expertise, supported by partnerships with research and documentation institutions, such as Sorbonne University (Paris) and Antonine University (Lebanon). Together, we aim to preserve and promote the maqām melodic system and music traditions—a cornerstone of Arab musical heritage, deeply intertwined with classical Arabic poetry—while adapting these traditions to resonate with modern audiences.
An Introduction to the Artistic Maqām Music Tradition of Arab Mašriq
✏️ Professor Nidaa Abou Mrad
“The Arab world can pride itself on possessing one of the most important traditions of art modal music in the world. The music of the Abbasid court represented the pinnacle of this art in the medieval period… This tradition was revived with the school of ʿAbdu al-Ḥamūlī (1843–1901), which reopened the door to renewal and creative ijtihād within the framework of the waṣla (suite).”
🎶 Live Recording (Audio)
Available now on all major audio streaming platforms
Maqām Festival Ensemble
Venice Biennale 2025
4000 Years of Maqām Music in the Mediterranean
🎥 Concert Film (Video)
Full concert on our YouTube channel
Maqām Festival Ensemble
Venice Biennale 2025
4000 Years of Maqām Music in the Mediterranean
Maqām Festival | مُلْتَقَى المُوسِيقَى المَقامِيَّة
P.O. Box 288
Postal Code 12311 Dokki
Giza, Egypt
Tel./whatsapp: +20 109 0379090
info@maqamfestival.com
www.maqamfestival.com
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