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AHMED MUKHTAR: THE MUSIC OF IRAQ
The Babylon Ensemble
Ahmed Mukhtar Oud leader
Ruba Hilawi Oud
Konstantinos Glynos Qanun
Muammer Saglam Percussion
Complementing the British Museum Ancient Iraq: New Discoveries exhibition at Lakeside, Baghdad-born oud master Ahmed Mukhtar performs a concert of traditional and original compositions introducing the forms, rhythms and melodies of Iraqi classical music. Mukhtar studied oud and Arabic percussion in Iraq, performing with folk musicians, orchestras and on Iraq TV before moving to the UK to continue his studies in Arabian music. He is the founding director of the Taqasim Music School and teaches at several London institutions.
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Arabic Music & the Oud – Concert, lecture & book signing
Join us for our first event of 2022!
A concert, lecture & book signing celebrating the official release of “Arabic Music & the Oud” by Ahmed Mukhtar.
Featuring performances by Taqasim Music School students, teachers and founding director Ahmed Mukhtar, a lecture by Archeomusicologist Professor Richard Dumbrill and a book signing of Ahmed Mukhtar’s newest title “Arabic Music and the Oud”.
When: Wednesday, 26th January 2022 @ 7:30pm
Where: St John’s Hoxton Pitfield Street, London N1 6NP
Get your in-person tickets here
Can’t come in-person?
You can still enjoy the concert LIVE online via the Taqasim Foundation YouTube channel.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH LIVE
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Taqasim Music School – *NEW TERM* January 2022
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
When: Saturday 15th January 2022 from 12 – 4 pm
Where: The Arab British Centre, 1 Gough Square London EC4A 3ED
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Taqasim Oud Club – al-Soufiyah with Redha Boudebagh: Sufi Music & Vocals
Join us for our last Taqasim Oud Club concert of the year!
Don’t miss al-Soufiyah with Redha Boudebagh
A mystical evening of Sufi music & vocals Featuring Redha Boudebagh (Sufi vocals), Nikos Kirios (violin), Konstantinos Glynos (qanun) & Muammer Saglam (percussion) and supervised by Ahmed Mukhtar.
When: Wednesday, 24th November 2021 @ 7:00pm (doors open at 6:30)
Where: St John the Baptist Church, Hoxton Pitfield Street, London N1 6NP
Get your in-person tickets here
Unable to attend in person?
You can still enjoy the concert LIVE online via the Taqasim Foundation YouTube channel.
This event is supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
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Taqasim Oud Club – Arabian Nights with Ahmed Mukhtar & Ensemble
The next Taqasim Foundation concert is titled Arabian Night! A celebration of classical Arabic music forms from across the Middle East. Join us to listen to some classics and original compositions by oud master Ahmed Mukhtar.
Featuring: Ahmed Mukhtar (oud), Redha Boudebagh (Sufi vocals),
Nikos Kirios (violin), Konstantinos Glynos (qanun) & Muammer Saglam (percussion)
When: Wednesday, 27th October 2021 @ 8:00pm (doors open at 7:30)
Where: St John the Baptist Church, Hoxton Pitfield Street, London N1 6NP
Get your in-person tickets here
Unable to attend in person?
You can still enjoy the concert LIVE online via the Taqasim Foundation YouTube channel.
This event is supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
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Taqasim Oud Club – Syrian Nights
We are back this September!
Join us for a night of Syrian music at the Taqasim Foundation’s upcoming concert Syrian Nights.
Featuring: Bassel Saleh (oud), Taim Saleh (qanun) & Walid Zaido (percussion)
When: Wednesday, 29th September 2021 @ 8:00pm (doors open at 7:30)
Where: St John the Baptist Church, Hoxton Pitfield Street, London N1 6NP
Get your in-person tickets online here
Unable to attend in person?
You can still enjoy the concert LIVE online via the Taqasim Foundation YouTube channel.
This event is supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
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Taqasim Oud Club – Turkish Tunes – Oud, qanun & darbuka
The Taqasim Foundation is pleased to present their upcoming concert.
Turkish Tunes – oud, qanun & darbuka is part of the concert series titled Taqasim Oud Club.
Join us for a night of Turkish music from traditional to modern, original compositions by Baha Yetkin.
When: Monday, 26th July 2021 @ 8:00pm (doors open at 7:30)
Where: St John the Baptist Church, Hoxton Pitfield Street, London N1 6NP
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Taqasim Oud Clinic – June 2021
Our termly Taqasim Oud Clinic is back!
Teachers will be available to re-string and examine your oud, and carry out basic repairs.
To maintain social distancing , we kindly ask that you reserve a 30 minute time-slot.
CLICK HERE
to book a time-slot
When: Friday, 25th of June 2021 from 16:00 – 20:00
Where: The Arab British Centre, 1 Gough Square, London EC4A 3DE
Fee: £5
See you there,
The TMS team
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Taqasim Oud Club – Classical Egyptian Violin
The Taqasim #OudClub Concert Series is back!
NEW program! NEW Venue! And IN-PERSON!
Join us for a night of Classical Egyptian Violin featuring violin virtuoso Waeil Abo Bakr, is a celebration of the Golden Era of Egyptian music from the ’50s. The violin performance will be accompanied by oud and percussion.
When: Monday, 28th June 2021 @ 8:00pm
Where: St John the Baptist Church, Hoxton Pitfield Street, London N1 6NP
This event is supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
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*Important Note* – Covid-19
Second London Lockdown
Seeing as London is going into its 2nd lockdown, we have had to move all Oud and Arabic Music Theory classes back online. We are please to continue offering quality classes to our students despite having to remain at home.
As of the 7th of November 2020 all face-to-face oud classes and Arabic Music Theory will be held online.
Unfortunately, we are unable to continue offering Darbuka classes. We hope these will resume as usual after the end of this lockdown.
Keep well, stay safe and continue to create music.
If you have any questions please email us as school@taqasim.net
We look forward to seeing you online.
The TMS Team
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Summer Intensive Course
Monday 24 August –Saturday 29 August 2020
Introduction to Arabic Music is an intensive course that will introduce the basics of Arabic music. The objective of this course is to give students a good basic theoretical and practical understanding of Arabic music.
The material covered will include a brief history of Arabic music, maqamaat, rhythms and musical forms presented along with a select repertoire of traditional and popular music. These will be analyzed and presented in a cultural and historical context.
Students are encouraged to bring along a stringed instrument to play during the course. A Oud is preferable, as it is one of the main Arabic musical instruments used today.
To make the best of this course, students are advised to practice regularly.
The course will run for 6 consecutive days.
The last day of the course will be dedicated to playing a select number of pieces that have been covered during the course. Students are welcome to bring along their instrument of choice if they wish.
Note: Playing an instrument is not a requirement to enroll in this course.
Registration: £145 (paid online)
Course Book: £5 (paid on the first day of class)
Sign-up Here
Monday 24 August – Saturday 29 August 2020 | 6 days | 14 hours
Monday – Friday 18:00 – 20:00, Saturday 12:00 – 16:00
17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 August
Course Fee: £145
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Online Open Day & Solo Performance
Registration is free!
Click here for booking
When: Saturday 30th May from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm (London time) on Zoom
Our special online Open Day and solo performance is a chance for you to listen to a great 20-minute performance by our founding director, artist Ahmed Mukhtar, to meet our teachers and ask us any questions about our courses and events.
Event schedule:
A brief introduction (5 minutes)
20-minute solo oud performance by Ahmed Mukhtar
A word from our founding director (5 minutes)
Meet the team (5 minutes)
Q & A
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Taqasim Oud Club – Arabic Music: from Syria to Spain
Regretfully, due to the recent developments surrounding the Covid-19 virus, this event has been cancelled.
The health and wellbeing of our audience members, artists and organizers are our top priority.
We hope to be back with more unique programming once the situation subsides.
Looking forward to seeing you at later events.
Kind regards,
The Taqasim Foundation Trustees
The Taqasim Oud Club concert series is supported using public funding by Arts Council England
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Taqasim Oud Club – Flamenco Guitar & Poetry
The Taqasim Oud Club this February. Flamenco Guitar & Poetry, will highlight the sounds of Andalusia played by Ignacio Monteverde alongside poetry recitations of Niall Mcdevitt and Sophie Naufal’s original work.
Flamenco Guitar & Poetry
When: Monday, 24th February 2020 at 7:30 pm
Where: 22 Betterton Street, London, WC2H 9BX
For tickets click here:
The Taqasim Oud Club concert series is supported using public funding by Arts Council England
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Taqasim Oud Club – Oud & Darbuka: maqams & rhythms
The Taqasim Foundation will start the 2020 Oud Club series with the concert Oud & Darbuka: maqams & rhythms. It will feature oud master Ahmed Mukhtar and Elizabeth Nott of percussion.
Oud & Darbuka: maqams & rhythms
When: Monday, 27th January 2020 at 7:30 pm
Where: 22 Betterton Street, London, WC2H 9BX
For tickets click here:
The Taqasim Oud Club concert series is supported using public funding by Arts Council England
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60 Minute Concerts – Oud & Guitar
A concert of fusion and conversation between Ahmed Mukhtar’s Oud and Ignacio Monteverde’s flamenco Guitar.
When: Saturday, 30th November 2019
Where: Church on the Corner, 64 Barnsbury Road, London N1 0ES
For tickets, click –> HERE
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Taqasim Oud Club: Ahmed Mukhtar & The Taqasim Ensemble
The Taqasim Foundation and the Taqasim Music School have put together a very special performance for our monthly Oud Club on the 25th of November.
The Taqasim Ensemble, lead by Ahmed Mukhtar, will present a night of traditional Arabic music and a selection of Ahmed Mukhtar’s original compositions. The ensemble consists of oud, Middle-Eastern violin (playing quarter-tones), viola and recorder.
Spaces are limited!
Event Details
Taqasim Oud Club: Ahmed Mukhtar & The Taqasim Ensemble When: Monday, 25th November 2019 at 7:30 pm
Where: 22 Betterton Street, London, WC2H 9BX
Tickets: CLICK HERE to book your ticket – (£5/ticket)
See you there!
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Maqam & Oud: Faith & Music in the Middle East & a performance by the Taqasim Ensemble
The Taqasim Foundation, London, has teamed up with the Woolf Institute, Cambridge, to join the first workshop of a series titled: Maqam & Oud. At the workshop, Ahmed Mukhtar will address Arabic music history and theory and the role it has played in the
secular and religious contexts of the Middle-East.
The Taqasim Ensemble, lead by Ahmed Mukhtar, will perform after the workshop. The ensemble consists of oud, Middle-Eastern violins (playing quarter-tones), viola and recorder. The group has come together to play a mixed repertoire of traditional Middle-Eastern pieces and original compositions by Mukhtar.
Spaces are limited. Please book online HERE
Maqam & Oud: Faith and Music in the Middle-East When: Monday, 25th November 2019 at 4:00 pm
Where: 22 Betterton Street, London, WC2H 9BX
Tickets: CLICK HERE to book online (free tickets)
Taqasim Oud Club: Taqasim Ensemble When: Monday, 25th November 2019 at 7:30 pm
Where: 22 Betterton Street, London, WC2H 9BX
Tickets: CLICK HERE to book online (£5/ticket)
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Taqasim Oud Clinic – November 2019
Our termly Taqasim Oud Clinic is back!
Teachers will be available to re-string and examine your oud, and carry out basic repairs.
When: Friday, 1st of November 2019 from 16:30 – 20:00
Where: The Arab British Centre, 1 Gough Square, London EC4A 3DE
Fee: £3 (general) / £2 (registered students)
See you there,
The TMS team
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Taqasim Oud Club: Music & Poetry from Iraq – October 2019
We are pleased to announce that the next Taqasim Oud Club in October is hosting the acclaimed Iraqi poet Abdul Hamid alSayeh.
The night will begin at 7:30 with an Open-Mic session of music and poetry, followed by a poetry recitation by alSayeh of his work in Arabic and in English translation.
Taqasim Oud Club: Music & Poetry from Iraq
When: Monday, 28th October 2019 at 7:30 pm
Where: 22 Betterton Street, London, WC2H 9BX
Tickets: £5 at the door
See you there!
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Taqasim Oud Club: Sufi Song & Oud – July 2019 *SOLD OUT*
The Taqasim Foundation & the Taqasim Music School are pleased to announce a special program for our September Taqasim Oud Club!
Oud master, Ahmed Mukhtar and renowned Algerian Sufi artist, Redha Boudebagh have joined forces to bring you a very special program that has been a year in the making. Join us on the 30th of September at the Poetry Café, Covent Garden and experience the unique fusion of Sufi maqam, Baghdadi oud and Andalusian vocals.
Sufi Song and Oud
When: Monday, 30th September 2019 at 7:30 pm
Where: 22 Betterton Street, London, WC2H 9BX
Purchase your tickets here
Sorry, this event has been sold out