In our season finale, San Francisco’s The Qadim Ensemble unites musicians versed in deeply-rooted musical traditions throughout the Middle East and Mediterranean basin, celebrating the common musical and spiritual heritage of the region’s cultures while honoring the great diversity found within them. Wandering Dove—An Offering of Hebrew and Arabic Song, presents liturgical and secular songs both in Hebrew and Arabic, in which the dove is the unifying motif—a personal musical prayer for peace in the Middle East and all over the world. The Qadim Ensemble includes Eliyahu Sills on the ney (the reed flute of the Middle East), Rachel Valfer Sills on oud and vocals, Faisal Zedan on Arabic percussion (such as darbukkah, riqq & daf). The ensemble is joined by world-renowned Palestinian Qanun master and vocalist, Ali Paris.
Eliyahu Sills, ney; Rachel Valfer Sills, oud, vocals; Faisal Zedan, percussion; Ali Paris, qanun, vocals
THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 7:30 PM (note day)
First Presbyterian Church
1140 Cowper Street at Lincoln, Palo Alto
SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 7:30 PM
First Church Berkeley UCC (First Congregational)
2345 Channing Way
SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 4:00 PM
St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church
500 De Haro St, San Francisco
About The Qadim Ensemble
The Qadim Ensemble is a groundbreaking project that transcends cultural boundaries to bring together the diverse musical traditions of the Middle East and beyond. Qadim is a word found in both Arabic and Hebrew, meaning ‘ancient’ as well as ‘that which will come.’ The ensemble’s repertoire includes Arabic, Jewish, Turkish Sufi, Hebrew-Yemenite, Armenian, Greek, Ladino and Moroccan music, celebrating the common musical and spiritual heritage of the region’s cultures, while honoring the great diversity found within them.
Eliyahu Sills studied for over ten years with the Hindaustani bansuri flute master G.S.Sachdev, one of the world's most highly esteemed musicians in that ancient tradition. In Istanbul, he studied with Neyzen Omer Erdogdular and Neyzen Ahmet Kaya; in Morocco with Akdii Abdelsalaam; and in Israel with Itamar Shachar.
Rachel Valfer is a passionate singer and oud (Arabic lute) player, singing in Hebrew, Arabic, Farsi, Greek, Turkish, Ladino, and Armenian. She studied maqam and Persian dastgah modal systems in Israel and Palestine for six years at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, and sings with several ensembles in the Bay Area.
Syrian-born percussionist Faisal Zedan received instruction from a distant relative—the only drummer in his village of Oum Dbaid. Since moving to the United States, he has played with many of the greatest Arabic musicians, such as Ali Jihad Racy, Julien Jâlal Eddine Weiss, and the band Kanzaman.
The Qadim Ensemble is joined by internationally acclaimed musician Ali Paris, one of the foremost qanun players of his generation. Born in Morocco, Ali is celebrated for his exceptional mastery and innovative artistry on his 14th-century traditional instrument, captivating audiences around the world, blending the rich traditions of Middle Eastern music with elements of Western styles.
