Quench the Thirsty

Mahmoud Ajjan is a remarkable scholar, oudist, violinist, and composer, largely self-taught through his extensive study and practice. He began composing at the age of 15 and continued throughout his life, becoming one of Syria’s hidden musical gems.

In 1945, he founded the Musical Club of Latakia, which became a vital institution for musical education in the region. This initiative helped many young musicians pursue their dreams professionally. In 1957, Ajjan represented Syria at the 6th World Festival of Youth and Students in Moscow, where he performed one of his compositions for violin in honor of the esteemed Arab poet and philosopher Abu al-’Alaa al-Ma’arri (973-1057). His performance received widespread acclaim, leading to an honor at the Moscow Institute of Oriental Studies.

Upon returning to Syria, Ajjan was recognized by the Syrian Ministry of Culture, receiving awards in 1959 and again in 1969. Beyond performing, composing, and teaching, he dedicated himself to research, archiving, and transcribing numerous Adwar (the plural of Dawr) and Muwashahat. He published two significant books: Study of the Dawr (1990) and Leil & ‘Ayn in Music and Poetry Traditions (2001).

Although not widely known outside his region, Ajjan's profound impact on music composition, musicology, and his students remains significant, solidifying his legacy in Syrian cultural history.

Born in al-Haffa, Latakia, Khalil Haj Hussein started learning music (oud) and composing on his own at the age of seven. He was a part of the Nahawand Ensemble from 1981 until 1990 and he studied Arabic Literature at Tishreen University and worked as an Arabic teacher for 10 years in the 1990s. After this, he began teaching music and was responsible for the school’s theatrical ensembles and choir which received numerous awards under his tutelage. Hussein has worked with numerous musicians as a vocal coach and theory teacher.

He has written over 70 compositions (21 of which are muwashah) and tonight we perform two of them.

The Syrian Music Preservation Initiative is dedicated to preserving and invigorating the diverse ethnic and regional music traditions of Syria (including but not limited to Arabic, Kurdish, Armenian and Syriac). Our performances promote the musical heritage of this region by presenting older works that are less known to the greater public as well as supporting contemporary exploration of the traditional forms by commissioning composers from Syria and the diaspora. In this way, we celebrate the past, present and future of Syrian music. 

We strive to preserve the Syrian compositional practices by researching their history and context, translating lyrics, providing transcriptions, documenting our performances, and—most importantly by making our digital resources accessible to artists, scholars, and communities worldwide. 

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Takht al-Nagham is SMPI's performing ensemble. Based in New York City, the group features a traditional Takht (Arab chamber music group). “Nagham” is the Arabic word for melody; it is commonly used as a synonym for the Arab Maqam system. The Takht is committed to performing the classical and folk Syrian repertoire with traditional acoustic instruments. In order to familiarize audiences in the U.S. with the original structure of the musical traditions, the Takht presents its sets (called Waslah) in the manner that they were originally performed. The Takht includes skilled Syrian and non-Syrian musicians who rely heavily on improvisations and are deeply immersed in the Syrian musical tradition.

A native of Syria, Samer Ali is a physician, violinist, composer, founder and artistic director of the Syrian Music Preservation Initiative. Samer has led Takht al-Nagham, SMPI's ensemble, in New York at Alwan for the Arts, Scandinavia House, and Roulette Intermedium; as well as at the Kennedy center in Washington, DC with Syrian soprano Lubana al-Quntar.

He began studying western classical violin at the age of eight with Fawaz al-Ali and Ali Farran, and later pursued intensive conservatory studies with Ali Mukhtar Babayev. He studied the Arab music traditions with Simon Shaheen, Anwar Hariri, and Muhammad Qadri Dalal. In Damascus, he co-founded Awj Ensemble, and has continued to perform in the US with groups like the Bronx Orchestra and the National Arab Orchestra.

Marissa earned her undergraduate degree in double bass performance from the Eastman School of Music, studying under renowned soloists James VanDemark and Curtis Buris. She later pursued her MBA and MA in Arts Administration at Southern Methodist University (SMU), continuing to immerse herself in the world of music.

After completing her studies, Marissa worked with various nonprofit organizations while performing with a diverse range of musical groups, including classical, rock, and Middle Eastern ensembles. Her multifaceted experience reflects her deep commitment to both music and the arts community.

Lubana al-Quntar is regarded as one of the leading opera singers of the Arab world, with a repertoire that also includes traditional Arabic, folk and pop music. Born in Damascus, she completed her academic studies at the Royal College of Music in London and the Damascus Conservatory of Music, and studied operatic performance at the Maastricht Academy of Music in Holland.

She has appeared globally as an opera soloist and as a traditional Arab singer, astonishing audiences with her mastery of the two different musical traditions. Notable appearances include Opera Bastille (Paris); Flemish Radio Orchestra Musica Viva (Bremen); Avincenna (Doha), the world’s first Arabic opera; and the Silk Road Festival (Tokyo). She headed the opera department at the Damascus Conservatory (2003-2011) where she taught opera and Arabic singing. She has dedicated her voice and efforts to raise awareness of Syrian culture and aid world refugees through fundraising concerts.