Plenty of room for improvisation

11 students show at a concert what they have learned at the Morgenland Academy

Osnabrück, October 17, 2017

An accordion in the music of the Arab world - unusual? No, Vincent doesn't think so. "The sound can be varied, after all," he says confidently during a break at the Morgenland Academy 2017. Together with ten other young people from Osnabrück, he spent five days during the fall vacations discovering Arabic music. The group was guided by three internationally renowned artists: singer Dima Orsho, violinist Layale Chaker and darbuka player Rony Barrak. Initiated by the Friends of the Morgenland Festival Society, the workshop was sponsored by the Friedel & Gisela Bohnenkamp Foundation.

Originally Vincent only played the piano, but for the past three months he has expanded his repertoire to include the accordion. With both instruments he now completes the group, which not only makes music together for a week, but also lives and sleeps together in the Fattoria Musica on the outskirts of Osnabrück. During the workshop, cultural experience is provided both in musical and human terms. What it has learned, the group presents on the last day of the academy during a concert. It starts at 6 p.m. - but some guests already stroll through the front door an hour before: "We've heard that it always gets very crowded," says one of these guests with a smile. The Morgenland Academy is taking place for the third time this year.

Dima Orsho, Layale Chaker and Rony Barrak have rehearsed eight pieces with the group this time, but with plenty of room for their own creativity. In almost every piece there is a phase in which one or more of the group improvises. The goal of the workshop is also to convey the self-confidence for such musical experiments. This is true, for example, of "Just jammin' around with some friends," which consists of a few bars previously worked out by the young people, the rest emerging at the moment of the concert. The three professionals mostly stay in the background, except for pieces they composed themselves.

Like a lullaby by Dima Orsho, with which she wants to remember how many people lost their loved ones during the war in Syria. Two of the young people were so enthusiastic about their participation last year that they applied for the academy again this year: Malik sits at the darbuka again, Anna plays the violin and also sings again. And, is it as beautiful as last time or different? "Very different," Anna says, and then adds, "But also beautiful."

That's evident in the fact that some of this year's group will meet with last year's participants on Saturday at the warehouse for a joint workshop. Led by Rony Barrak, they will mainly deal with Arabic rhythms. Edin Mujkanovic will also be taking part. The guitarist and scientist from the University of Osnabrück supports the academy group from last year, which still regularly makes music together. The plan is to further expand such meetings in the coming year. "We are considering organizing an alumni meeting next year," says Prof. Dr. Karlheinz Altendorf as chairman of the Friends of the Morgenland Festival Society.

Further information at: www.morgenland-freunde.com