In this session, we will be focusing on the rutchenitsa, a Balkan 7/8 rhythm with a fun line dance that Ziah will teach to those interested. I have a melody that I’d like to teach. There’s no lyrics and no sheet music for this piece, but it will be fun. Again, I’d like to review and rehearse all of our past pieces. We will also be having a lot of out of town guests at this salon because of the show the night before at the Right Light Café. The earlier time is by request so that these guests can get home at a reasonable time to their respective Southern cities. - See Calendar for more info on Red Light Hafla

I forgot to add this to the calendar! Sorry for being last minute.

This week's salon will focus on Lamma Bada Yatathanna a very old song that transcends multiple cultures. Here is an article about the song http://www.wnyc.org/shows/newsounds/episodes/2003/05/26

I have the Arabic lyrics for the song, and I think Jonathan said he had some more arrangements, so it will be a very interesting salon!

We have not had the opportunity to get together this year. Thank you to Majida Anwar (one of our new members) for putting this together. She is organizing a couple of music sessions throughout the summer to focus on Middle Easter Music her in Atlanta. The first get together is May 10th in Virginia Highland. Below is her announcement:

Hello everyone!

I (Majda) would like to start a bi-monthly music salon. What I want to do with this is to get musicians together to play and rehearse music mainly from the Middle East, North Africa, and the Balkans. Everyone, no matter your musical level, is encouraged to attend these salons – drummers, melody players, dancers aka zill players!

Last fall I spent 5 months in Cairo, Egypt where I began my journey into Arabic music. I really don’t want to lose what I’ve learned, so I’d like to see if anyone in the Atlanta area is interested in coming to weekly music rehearsals/ jam sessions/ learning sessions about Arabic music. I would like to be able to share what I’ve learned so I can practice and not forget it! Any instrument would be welcome, just keep in mind that quartertones are harder to play on some instruments than others.

I have some sheet music from this semester in Cairo, but I’m open to learning things by ear as well, which is how it really is done. The
sheet music is all in C as I play the violin, so any of you b flat or F or alto or bass players be prepared to transpose the music if you want to play it.

I don’t profess in any shape, form, or fashion to be an expert in Middle Eastern music, just a student who wants to grow her skills with an ensemble! I would like this to be very low key and fun and hopefully a way to grow a handful of students and musicians that
appreciate and want to perform Middle Eastern music, especially so that when the big names come in town, we can really benefit from their instruction.

I am just playing facilitator for this event. I will share my knowledge and I hope others will participate and do the same. Everyone is encouraged to bring both sheet music and songs to the salon for us to play. You do not have to read music to be here, nor do you have to have any experience in music to participate. I would like to be able to foster a community of people wanting to learn music and be able to play at haflas and events.

Here is some general information:

Date and Time:
Sundays: May 10th, May 31st, June 14th and 28th, July 12th
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Cost:
I ask everyone bring a donation of $5 cash for rehearsal space for each rehearsal.

Place:
We will meet at Awalim’s rehearsal space in the Virginia Highlands
1031 Reeder Circle Atlanta, GA (house is up the hill, rehearsal in the garage studio)

Events:
Eventually I would like to be able for this salon to be able to perform at haflas…

Communication:
If you are interested in this salon, please join the google group: http://groups.google.com/group/memusicatl

Welcome all the new members..... we will reschedule the August 23rd meetup, which has been postponed. Soon. Hopefully within just a few weeks. Please excuse the confusion. The Meetup Group website continues to promote the 23rd, despite all my efforts. --- JOnathan

t has been too long. We have new members. Rouzbeh, (hope you are not committed to a concert that eveningt) --- is in need of Balkan influences. I have been practicing with Neno -- he is VERY patient. We have Theo, from Bulgaria who has joined recently. We have other new members who play Rumba and Flamenco. We have Belly Dancers (note the capitalization of B and D -- well Deserved) who inspire us to improvise. We have new percussion --- Danny, can you join us as lead a Balkan beat? -- of course you can. No, we don't all play perfectly. Sometimes it sounds like a bag of cats being beaten by a bouzouki. But, sometimes the music accomplishes what it is intended to do --- to inspire, to aspire, to heal. And, at the end of the evening -- it is brushed away like a sand painting by a bunch of Tibetans who imbibed a bit too much and felt they reached their apex.

So, WHO IS IN? Who will record? J. Cazenave are you ready? Who will suggest a structure? Is a structure necessary?

As usual, we will provide some of the usual inspiratore drinkinave and muchenisimo. I need a response a little soon from everyone to book the room. You know the place on 11th street. 266 11th street in the basement stable circa 1913. Ghosts included.

Looking forward to your answers. Charlie. Are you still in the US? Drew? Rita? Whassup with the Russian Gypsy jam?

This is the big bash so.....

Do it.

Oh. and bring an accordian player, for G-d's sake. Where the heck are the accordian players when you need one?

Jonathan and Monica

Please bring some drinkables and eatables. We will have some wine, beer, and munchies. This is an RSVP event through this site or by emailing me at buzuq@yahoo.com. Mishto!!!!!!!!

As far as who should come: (besides Neno, Charlie, Rita, Drew, Dave, Olaf et al......Lovers and Players of Mediterranean, Arabic and Balkan rhythms and beats, jugglers and belly dancers, snake charmers and snake oil salesmen, mimes and tiny dancers. Mandolin players and guitarists, bouzouki's, oud's and accordians, fiery fiddlers and psychic base players, clarinets and flutes, riqs tablas and other instruments struck with the hands fingers and toes......