Timeless Egypt: Egypt’s Legacy in Motion

Timeless Egypt: Egypt’s Legacy in Motion celebrates the soul of a nation whose music flows endlessly from past to present. Join Music in-Takht, founded and led by violinist Basma Edrees, on a journey through Egypt’s ever-evolving soundscape — from the enchanting beauty of classical takht traditions to bold new fusions with jazz, Irish, and Western classical influences.

The program features four exciting world premieres (two each by Basma Edrees and Moe Elshazly): Silenced Embers, an expressive new work by Basma as well as Nexus, a commission by The San Jose Jazz Aid Fund. Moe Elshazly will premiere Irish Sahlab a dynamic, genre-blending piece. Moe is an avid fan of the Sean-nós traditions of Western Ireland and Irish folk music more broadly. He has long mused that Irish and Arabic folk music, despite their different modal structures, share a common “soul” of appreciating melodic ornamentation and artistic expression. Irish Sahlab is an experiment in the fusion of these two musical tradition, and a small tribute to the music of Ireland that inspired Moe throughout his youth. It combines micro-tonal Arabic musical modes with Bodhrán-inspired rhythms and Irish fiddle ornamentations. 

Sahlab is a popular hot beverage around the Mediterranean basin made out of milk and orchid tubers. The name is a playful reference to Irish coffee, where two seemingly disparate ingredients combine to produce a cocktail that exceeds the sum of its parts in both taste and potency.

New music such as the works offered in this concert embody Egypt’s living artistry — a culture that continually absorbs and transforms the many influences of those who have chosen to call it home.

Music in-Takht

Music in-Takht is an ensemble founded by Egyptian violinist and educator Basma Edrees to showcase Egypt’s rich instrumental heritage and its modern evolution. Inspired by the traditional Arabic takht ensemble, the group began as a small group of 3 Bay Area Egyptians and gradually expanded into a flexible dynamic group of collaborators. The ensemble focuses on instrumental works by Egyptian composers, highlighting both classical repertoire and newly commissioned pieces that blend Egyptian elements with global styles. Through regular concerts in the San Francisco Bay Area, Music in-Takht has become a platform for sharing Egypt’s cultural legacy with new audiences and has become an ambassador for Egypt’s past, present, and future in music.