AUS Arabic Ensemble performs poem by Sheikh Zayed

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Hamdan Hadrami prepares to recite Sheikh Zayed’s poem. Traditional Duff instruments were brought out for his part.

By Abdullah Al-Tekreeti

UNIVERSITY CITY, SHARJAH – American University of Sharjah’s own Arabic Music Ensemble performed a rendition of one of the late Sheikh Zayed’s poems on Nov. 23 in the AUS Arts building.

Hamdan Hadrami performed the poem, written by Sheikh Zayed in honor of troops returning from the liberation of Kuwait in 1991. His rendition of it earned him a standing ovation at the end of the night.

Tuleen Khalil, an AUS psychology sophomore, said, “I haven’t listened to much Emarati poetry. Tonight’s definitely a first for me.”

The ensemble, made up of students and professors, also played Mowashahat, a traditional form of Andalusian Arabic music. The two-day event also hosted a wide variety of classical Arabic musical pieces as well as several contemporary ones.

On the choice of musical pieces, AUS senior Yara Al-Jabi said, “[The night] helped showcase the true beauty of Arabic music, starting from its golden age up until current pop songs.”

Al-Jabi, a veteran of the Arabic ensemble, led a solo where she sang “Qad Esh Kan Fi Nas,” by Fairuz.