Alhaj, who was born in Baghdad, Iraq, began playing the oud, known as the grandfather of all stringed instruments, at a young age, studying with Munir Bashir, considered by many to be the greatest oud player. Alhaj holds both a degree in Arabic literature from Mustansaria Univerisity in Baghdad and a diploma in composition. He was imprisoned twice by the regime of Saddam Hussein, in part for refusing to compose musical tributes to that regime's military adventures during the 1980's. His life came under threat by the Hussein regime at the time of the first Gulf War and he escaped in 1991, eventually making his way as a political refugee via Syria and Lebanon to New Mexico in 2000. Here, he began the long process of learning English, adjusting to a very different culture, and reestablishing himself as a musical authority, performer and composer.
Speaking by telephone from his home in Albuquerque, Alhaj talked about his
career, which includes solo performances and appearances with musical ensembles
in a variety of sizes, from string quartets to full symphony orchestras.
Alhaj has performed all over the world and in hundreds of concerts in the United
States. This includes a recent performance on June 18, at the Kennedy
Center for the Smithsonian Folkways release of his fourth CD, "When the Soul is
Settled: Music of Iraq", with Alhaj on oud and Lebanese percussionist Souhail
Kaspar on tabla. His recording: Friendship: Oud and Sadaqa Quartet" was
nominated for a Grammy Award.
In addition to his solo performances, Alhaj teaches music theory and
appreciation. Joking, he describes himself as "a mean teacher", then
qualifies his statement by explaining that he has high expectations of his
students. His composition work takes up whatever time he can find in his
busy schedule. He works with composer and cellist Katie Harlow, who
teaches at the Albuquerque Academy, where Alhaj's wife teaches Arabic. The
pair have been working on pieces that Alhaj will perform along with over 18
symphony orchestras throughout the country, sending out their scores in advance
so that the orchestras will be ready for rehearsal when Alhaj arrives.
How does an oud play in concert with an orchestra trained in Western classical
traditions? This is one of Alhaj's favorite subjects, one he refers to as
his educational mission--"to let people be more aware of other cultures".
Speaking of the symphony orchestras, Alhaj asks, "How can they play only Mozart
or Bach? How can we engage ourselves?" There is no Western music or Eastern
music, he says, "We made it all up. There is just music. Why do we call it
Western music, or say this is jazz and this is classical music? We only made up
these categories to convince ourselves that we are knowledgeable about the
world. It's all music."
Kiermaier has been performing the poetry of Rumi for over a decade and was
initially inspired by the performances of Rumi's poetry by Robert Bly and
Coleman Barks, Kiermaier brings an uncommon soulfulness to his performances of
Rumi's poetry, through which he engages with audiences on an intimate level. He
lives in Hallowell.
Suggested donation is $12 at the door. For more information, call 230-0232.
The performance is a benefit for the International Film Festival of the Spirit (www.filmspirit.org),
which will take place the weekend of April 27, 28 and 29 at the Strand Theatre
in Rockland.