The World Music Ensemble meets on Friday mornings from 11-1. It is open to students on all courses and from all musical backgrounds, and encompasses a variety of musics from the Middle East, taking in Klezmer as well as Arabic and old Ottoman traditions. The pieces range from traditional songs to complex and challenging classical instrumental compositions, sometimes incorporating microtonal scales. Students begin by exploiting the skills they already have on their own familiar instruments or voices, but are encouraged to experiment with some of the appropriate instruments in the Anglia collection, including ud, qanun, various percussion instruments and the most recent addition, a santouri (Greek hammer dulcimer). They are also invited to step away from notation and explore the fascinating middle ground between improvisation and composition that is so characteristic of the music of these regions.

For further information, please contact Dr Jon Banks.