The Blog

The blog was active between 2010 and 2013, and discusses the many topics related to Middle Eastern bass playing.

CD “Double Bass East” now ready for download

CD “Double Bass East” now ready for download

I am happy to tell you that my CD “Double Bass East” is finally digitized and ready for you to

Learn the Maqamat

Learn the Maqamat

...It is still hard to find good structured ‘academic’ material about the theory of the Maqamat, and there is no

Spy Work for Musicians

Spy Work for Musicians

When I was looking for visuals for my article on the double bass and Middle Eastern music I found this

Hearing the Quarter-Tones

Hearing the Quarter-Tones

"The awkwardness grew even more when I played simple kids songs they know, and put some quarter tones in them

BASS2012 Copenhagen

BASS2012 Copenhagen

Two events coming up at the next BASS1012 Copenhagen: Middle Eastern double bass recital, and the next Middle Eastern workshop

Double Bass and Orchestra – the Middle Eastern Version

Double Bass and Orchestra – the Middle Eastern Version

The phenomenon of the Israeli Andalusian orchestras is fascinating. There are at least two big orchestras with a large subscription

From the teachings of Prof. Dalia Cohen

From the teachings of Prof. Dalia Cohen

It has been a long time since I wrote here, and many good things happened to tell about. One of

The Next Generation

The Next Generation

I have written here about the “Mediterranean Musical Dialogue” seminar, and I am happy to report that my bass class

Start Listening

Start Listening

Whether it is by email or in person from my own students, and so many times from players after every

Mediterranean Musical Dialogue

Mediterranean Musical Dialogue

The “Mediterranean Musical Dialogue” is a four-day seminar for musicians who want to delve into the world of Mediterranean music.

Hands on Experience

Hands on Experience

Imagine showing your students a totally different way of playing the bass, that is still based on the same principals

Eastern Positions for the Double Bass

Eastern Positions for the Double Bass

The “eastern positions” for the double bass are a way to execute the micro tonality, or ‘quarter tones’*, that are

Mr. Karr, Would You Teach Me How to Drive a Double Bass?

Mr. Karr, Would You Teach Me How to Drive a Double Bass?

Mr. Karr, Would You Teach Me How to Drive a Double Bass? My teacher Dr. Michael Klinghoffer has published his

Study Abroad at the JAMD’s Oriental Music Division

Study Abroad at the JAMD’s Oriental Music Division

Jerusalem Sounds – a new program for studying abroad in Israel: The Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance (JAMD) and

Who’s afraid of Oum Kulthum?

Who’s afraid of Oum Kulthum?

Or: Thoughts about encountering Middle Eastern music When we discuss the double bass in Middle Eastern music, we almost always

Arabic Music and the Audience

Arabic Music and the Audience

Traditional Arabic music includes a unique and inseparable connection between the performer and the audience. Due to the improvisational nature

Bottesini in Cairo

Bottesini in Cairo

The traditional Arabic music of our day has definitely evolved partly under the influence of the inevitable contact with western

Ornamentation in Arabic Music

Ornamentation in Arabic Music

One of the challenges we face when playing the double-bass as a solo instrument in Arabic music, even before the

A Brief History of Arabic Music up to the 20th Century

A Brief History of Arabic Music up to the 20th Century

The history of Arabic music can be divided into several main periods. The first is the pre-Islamic period – the

The Double Bass and Middle Eastern Music- Introduction

The Double Bass and Middle Eastern Music- Introduction

Update: This was the first of a series of posts explaining how the double bass was accepted into the ensembles

Classical Arabic Music Primary Terms

Classical Arabic Music Primary Terms

Here are a few Important Primary terms of classical Arabic music. This list is taken from my yet unpublished paper “Introduction

Upcoming shows

Upcoming shows

I don’t usually do that, but this time its very exciting for me: I have two concerts with Oud master

“Soon to come” post

“Soon to come” post

The next series of posts will be dedicated to the question “what made the double bass get accepted into the music

Fuad Abbas

Fuad Abbas

Umm Kulthum, “the star of the east”, had enormous influence on the entire Arab world, and is considered the greatest traditional Arab