Mourning, Refuge, and Unity: String Quartets from the Arab World

This program shares music by composers from the Levant or “Arab World” and the gripping stories behind it. Each piece was selected and published by Palestinian Jordanian Canadian musician Shireen Abu Khader, who says “In spite of wars and catastrophes, it is unity that holds people together… Isn’t music a form of this unity?” The program includes “Lao Rahal Soti” (“If My Voice Departs”) by Samih Choukeir, which emotionally states, “Even if my voice departs [if I die], your voice will remain… bringing together the broken and suffering hearts.”