Emirates pays tribute to the iconic lute instrument
The eighteenth edition of the Abu Dhabi Festival, the premier celebration of arts and culture in the Persian Gulf will launch its World Lute Forum (WLF) 2021. This year the event will be virtual, with musicians from around the world performing special compositions to celebrate the Lute in the Middle East. In addition, this year is the 50th anniversary of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) so the festival takes on a unique significance.
This year's edition will be held under the theme "The Future Starts Now", taking the UAE's cultural vision towards "an innovative future". Key partners of the event include Mubadala, the sovereign wealth fund of the Government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and GS Energy along with institutions such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development and the Department of Culture and Tourism. The festival is promoted by the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation.
In addition to the MLF, the festival will encompass events related to theatre, visual arts, dance, opera, music, literature, conferences and workshops in the region, making it a particularly relevant event to showcase the art and culture of the area. The event includes the participation of 30 of the most renowned lute players and will be held from 25 May to 15 June 2021.
The Arabian lute, unlike the European lute, has no frets, as these disturb the realisation of the quarter tones so characteristic of oriental music, and has a smaller pole and a larger soundboard. Its register is generally two and a half octaves and it is used in classical and popular music in the Middle East and other countries such as Turkey, Morocco, Pakistan, Armenia and Georgia. It is considered one of the most representative instruments of Arabic music.
In addition to the MLF, the festival will encompass events related to theatre, visual arts, dance, opera, music, literature, conferences and workshops in the region, making it a particularly relevant event to showcase the art and culture of the area. The event includes the participation of 30 of the most renowned lute players and will be held from 25 May to 15 June 2021.
The Arabian lute, unlike the European lute, has no frets, as these disturb the realisation of the quarter tones so characteristic of oriental music, and has a smaller pole and a larger soundboard. Its register is generally two and a half octaves and it is used in classical and popular music in the Middle East and other countries such as Turkey, Morocco, Pakistan, Armenia and Georgia. It is considered one of the most representative instruments of Arabic music.
The collaboration of Naseer Shamma gives a special status to the event due to the fact that he is one of the great lute masters of our time. He has received more than 60 awards and recognitions and has released albums in Italy, Egypt, Algeria and the UK with more than 60 compositions. Shamma is also a UNESCO Artist for Peace since February 2017 and a Goodwill Ambassador for the International Red Crescent and Red Cross Societies.
