Mesmerizing, intricate, anthemic . . . One of New York’s most eclectic, interesting oudists”

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Halfaouine 

A couple of people contacted me and asked if I had transcribed Halfaouine, one of Anouar Brahem's most famous pieces.  It's been recorded by him several times, and there is also a version with lyrics recorded by Lotfi Bouchnak. 

 

I learned it from his 1999 album Astrakan Café, back when it was first released! I had only been playing oud for about a year at that point.  His 1998 album with Dave Holland and John Surman, Thimar, came out the year I started playing oud and was one of the first recordings I was…

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Previous events

Date Event Location
RBA Presents: Brian Prunka & Ayman Asfour: Explorations in Arabic Maqam Roulette Intermedium , Brooklyn, NY 11217 Roulette Intermedium , Brooklyn, NY 11217
Brian Prunka - New Quartet Barbes, Brooklyn, NY 11215 Barbes, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Nashaz Barzakh Cafe, Brooklyn, NY 11213 Barzakh Cafe, Brooklyn, NY 11213
Qurb: The Music of Anouar Brahem (Presented by Brooklyn Maqam) Barbes, Brooklyn, NY 11215 Barbes, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Music for Oud & String Quartet | Zafer Tawil Solo The Owl Music Parlor, Brooklyn, NY 11225 The Owl Music Parlor, Brooklyn, NY 11225
 —  — The New York Arabic Orchestra featuring Marwa Morgan | The Voice of the Century: A Tribute to Umm Kulthum Alexander Hall, Richardson Theatre at Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08542 Alexander Hall, Richardson Theatre at Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08542
with Megumi Saruhashi & Friends Michiko Studios, New York, NY Michiko Studios, New York, NY
with Megumi Saruhashi & Friends Barbes, Brooklyn, NY 11215 Barbes, Brooklyn, NY 11215
(EDT, UTC-04) (EDT, UTC-04) Brian Prunka & Ensemble Sadaa L/A Arts, Lewiston, Maine L/A Arts, Lewiston, Maine
 — (EDT, UTC-04)  — (EDT, UTC-04) Taqsim: Improvisation & Arabic Maqam (workshop) L/A Arts, Lewiston, Maine L/A Arts, Lewiston, Maine
New York Oud Festival Jalopy Theatre, Brooklyn, NY 11231 Jalopy Theatre, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Brooklyn Maqam presents: The Cassette Addict - by Karim Nagi and his Enablers Barbes, Brooklyn, NY 11215 Barbes, Brooklyn, NY 11215
New York Arabic Orchestra Tilles Center - LIU Post, Greenvale, NY 11548 Tilles Center - LIU Post, Greenvale, NY 11548
 — (CST, UTC-06)  — (CST, UTC-06) Arabic Brunch + Dance The Tigermen Den, New Orleans, LA 70117 The Tigermen Den, New Orleans, LA 70117
(CST, UTC-06) (CST, UTC-06) SAMI ABU SHUMAYS SEXTET Zeitgeist Theater, Arabi, LA 70032 Zeitgeist Theater, Arabi, LA 70032
The Umm Kulthum Workshop with Sami Abu Shumays. Featuring Zahra al Zubaidi Barzakh Cafe, Brooklyn, NY 11213 Barzakh Cafe, Brooklyn, NY 11213
Karim Nagi Ensemble University of Pittspurgh - Bellefield Hall, pittsburgh pa 15213 University of Pittspurgh - Bellefield Hall, pittsburgh pa 15213
 —  — Nashaz Shapeshifter Lab, Brooklyn, NY 11215 Shapeshifter Lab, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Megumi Saruhashi & Friends Barzakh Cafe, Brooklyn, NY 11213 Barzakh Cafe, Brooklyn, NY 11213
Brian Prunka - Birthday Show! Barbes, Brooklyn, NY 11215 Barbes, Brooklyn, NY 11215