Andre Hajj & Ensemble - Instrumental Music from Lebanon [CD]

This release is a beautiful album, based on the rich cultural tradition of Lebanese music. It highlights the traditional oriental orchestra (takht), consisting of oud, buzuk, qanun, ney, oriental violin and double bass with Arabian percussions such as tabla, riqq, katem, mezher and others. Artistic director and primary conductor of the Lebanese National Orchestra for Oriental Arabic Music, Andre Hajj is a Lebanese musician who grew up in an atmosphere of music and arts encouraged by his mother. Influenced by this musical and artistic atmosphere, Hajj began to study music at the age of sixteen and graduated from the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik with a Diploma in Oud and a Bachelor of Arts in Educational Music. He formed the group Amaken in 2003 to perform traditional Lebanese and Arabic music and he gave regular concerts in Lebanon and other countries.