Ahmed El Maai presents the raml almaya and great hijaz melody from the Andalusian musical repertoire.

El Maai is one of the most promising and talented musicians of Morocco. His love for Andalusian music started at an early age in the conservatory of Tangiers. Since 2005 he developed himself more in Belgium where he was able to blend Andalusian music with other styles. Nowadays he plays different styles around the Mediterranean and became a globetrotter. El Maai plays qanun, ud, percussion, rebab and violin. His hidden secret is his outstanding vocal value.

Younes Fakhar presents an improvisation (taqsim) on the sahli algharnati scale, which originates from Eastern Morocco.

Fakhar is a renowned ud musician from Tangier in the north of Morocco. He works at the conservatory in Tangier and is known for his unique collaborations with the Moroccan rock band Lazywall and the Mozart Maghribi collective.

Greece and Turkey share lots of cultural practices in both food and music. The zeibekiko or zeybek dance is a typical example of this shared history, which is still practised in both countries today. Mehmet Polat plays a traditional zeybek composition.

Polat is a renowned ud player, composer and bandleader. His music has, for many years, drawn on a variety of rich musical traditions: from Africa to India, and from Persia to the Balkans.

Mehmet Polat demonstrates the complex and detailed classical Turkish style by playing the maqam hüzzam.

Polat is a renowned ud player, composer and bandleader. His music has, for many years, drawn on a variety of rich musical traditions: from Africa to India, and from Persia to the Balkans.

The Turkish folk style only started being taught in conservatories a century ago, it is characterised by its relatively fast rhythm and short musical cycles. This style truly appeals to strong emotions. Mehmet Polat performs a characteristic piece of this style.

Polat is a renowned ud player, composer and bandleader. His music has, for many years, drawn on a variety of rich musical traditions: from Africa to India, and from Persia to the Balkans.

Haytham Safia presents two maqams from the Levant: the bold and sturdy maqam rast and the maqam hijaz, which expresses feelings of yearning and absence.

Safia was born in North Galilee and since graduating from the Academy of Music and Dance in Jerusalem has been expanding his musical horizons in the Netherlands. He is known for his razor-sharp solos, breathtaking compositions and unconventional approach to mingling musical styles.

Latif Al Obaidi presents a specific Iraqi maqam, the maqam husayni.

Al Obaidi is the son of Farida Mohamed Ali, the renowned Iraqi maqam singer. He started his career under the guidance of his uncle Jamil Al Asadi, when he was 14 years old. Since 1999 he lives in the Netherlands and plays with several Arab ensembles like the Iraqi Maqam Ensemble and Al Kindi.

The roots of the ud can be traced back to Persia, around 3500 years ago. The Persian musical style has a strong influence on lots of ud musicians until today. Mehmet Polat demonstrates a distinctive Persian maqam called chargah.

Polat is a renowned ud player, composer and bandleader. His music has, for many years, drawn on a variety of rich musical traditions: from Africa to India, and from Persia to the Balkans.

Tariq Abdel Azeez plays a specific taqsim from Hadramauth, South Yemen.

Abdel Azeez is an ud player from the south of Yemen, raised in Saudi Arabia. His style is a rich synthesis of Yemeni and Saudi sounds. He frequently combines his own musical heritage with traditions from other countries.