Simon Shaheen

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Simon Shaheen
Shaheen in 1994
Background information
Born1955
Tarshiha, Upper Galilee, Israel
Occupation(s)Musician, composer
Instrument(s)Oud, violin

Simon Shaheen (Arabic: سيمون شاهين, Hebrew: סימון שאהין; born Tarshiha, Upper Galilee, Israel, 1955) is a Palestinian-American oud and violin player and composer.[1][2][3]

At the age of 2, Shaheen moved with his family to Haifa, but spent most of the weekends in Tarshiha, an Arab village in Galilee. The Shaheen family is known for its musicality with music instructor and father Hikmat, oud-playing and instrument-making brother Najib, violinist and oud playing William, and singing sisters Laura and Rosette.[4][5][6]

Music career

Shaheen began playing the oud at 5, and the violin shortly thereafter.[7] He attended Tel Aviv University, earning degrees in Arabic literature and music performance.[8] He later pursued further studies at Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In 1980 he emigrated to the United States to study music at the Manhattan School of Music and Columbia University, eventually becoming a U.S. citizen.[9][10]

He founded the Near Eastern Music Ensemble and organizes arts festivals and retreats.[9][11] Shaheen also heads the Arabic Music Retreat, held annually at Mt. Holyoke College's campus in Massachusetts which brings together a large faculty instructing Arabic music for a week and concludes with a concert.

Shaheen, a

Arab, lives in New York City, where he leads an Arabic ensemble called Qantara which he formed.[12]

In 1994 he received a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts.[13][10]

In addition to his work in traditional and classical Arabic music, Shaheen has participated in many cross-cultural musical projects, including performing with producer

Jewish klezmer musicians The Klezmatics.[14][15][16][17][18]

Select discography

References

  1. ^ "SIMON SHAHEEN & QANTARA "Blue ... – The Washington Post | HighBeam Research – FREE trial". Highbeam.com. June 22, 2001. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  2. ^ Mitter, Siddhartha (October 10, 2008). "Simon Shaheen is an ambassador for traditional Arabic music – The Boston Globe". Boston.com. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  3. ^ Koehler, Robert (September 10, 1993). "Humble Means, Rich Sounds * Masters from far-flung origins will play their simple instruments in North Hollywood. Los Angeles Festival: "HOME, PLACE and MEMORY", A Citywide Arts Fest". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  4. ^ Rule, Sheila (November 7, 1994). "Ancient Oud Gets A Hearing In Brooklyn". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  5. ISBN 978-0-19-972113-9
    . Retrieved August 4, 2013.
  6. ^ Nina Roberts (March 31, 2009). "He Plays Arab Music, Makes and Fixes Ouds". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
  7. ^ "Simon Shaheen & Qantara "Blue". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. June 22, 2001. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  8. ^ Rule, Sheila (October 29, 1994). "A Man and His Oud. How's That Again? – New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  9. ^
    ISBN 978-0-87930-627-4
    . Retrieved August 4, 2013.
  10. ^
    ISBN 978-0-8156-0739-7
    . Retrieved August 4, 2013.
  11. ISBN 978-0-313-33219-7
    . Retrieved August 4, 2013.
  12. ^ "Google". April 4, 1999.
  13. ^ Rule, Sheila (November 7, 1994). "Ancient Oud Gets A Hearing In Brooklyn". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  14. ^ Pareles, Jon (February 13, 1993). "Review/Music; Klezmer Meets Arabic Tradition – New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  15. ISSN 0028-7369
    . Retrieved August 4, 2013.
  16. ISBN 978-0-415-97930-6
    . Retrieved August 4, 2013.
  17. ^ Chuy Varela, Special to The Chronicle (May 16, 2006). "APPRECIATION / Soraya lost battle with cancer, but raised awareness". Sfgate.com. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  18. ISBN 978-1-85828-636-5
    . Retrieved August 4, 2013.

External links
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