A Doorway to Mediterranean World Music by Yinon Muallem
In this workshop, Yinon introduces the musical scales of the Middle East, known as maqam. He will explain how these scales shape the sound and emotion of traditional music from the region.
The session will also explore traditional asymmetric rhythms, such as 7/8 and 9/8, which are widely used in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern music.
Yinon will perform traditional melodies from different continents, demonstrating the diversity and connections within Mediterranean world music. The workshop will conclude with a slide presentation highlighting some of the greatest Jewish musicians who made a strong cultural and musical impact in their home countries.
About the lecturer:
Yinon Muallem is a composer and multi-instrumentalist of Iraqi-Jewish origin, specializing in Ethnic Mediterranean and world music. His work fuses traditional sounds with jazz, classical, and contemporary styles. To date, he has released 12 albums. Yinon plays the Oud (Arabic lute) and various string instruments, as well as a range of hand percussion instruments from different musical traditions, including Darbuka, frame drums, Spanish Cajón, bongos, and more. Over the years, he has led and participated in numerous intercultural music projects, fostering creative collaboration between musicians from diverse backgrounds. He has given masterclasses and workshops at institutions such as the Royal Academy of Music, Stockholm (2023) and Sibelius Academy, Helsinki (2022).
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