Qatar Foundation (QF) hosted the first edition of ’Heart to Heart’ – a series of performances celebrating the purity and depth of Arabic maqam and the timeless place it holds within Arab identity, in its most authentic form.

Held at the Black Box Theatre in Multaqa, the opening night of ‘Heart to Heart’ – which is part of QF’s Al Ghorrah for Literature and Arts, a celebration of the cultural heritage and arts of Arab and Islamic civilisations – was attended by HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, Vice Chairperson, QF.

It gathered music enthusiasts for an intimate live performance illuminated only by candlelight to experience sound in its most authentic and natural form, free of all screens and amplification.

The performance featured the Doha Ensemble for Classical Maqam, comprising musician, composer, and researcher Mustafa Said, and Tawfiq Mirkhan, Ahmed AlKarawi, Ibrahim Kadar, and Hany AlKhatib, all of whom are members of the Arabic Department at QF’s Qatar Music Academy.

Doha ensemble for classical maqam performing at the Black Box Theatre, Multaqa.
Doha ensemble for classical maqam performing at the Black Box Theatre, Multaqa.



Together with Ali Hout from the Asil Ensemble, they took the audience on a journey through eight centuries of Arabic melodic tradition, blending classical compositions inspired by historical manuscripts with newly composed contemporary works.

Following the performance, attendees had the opportunity to meet and interact with the musicians through a special segment of the event organised in collaboration with QF’s BilAraby initiative, offering a platform for dialogue around the cultural and scientific depth of the Arabic maqam.

This highlighted BilAraby’s role in promoting, and allowing people to connect with, Arab cultural and artistic identity, and with inspiring ideas and perspectives.

In addition to the live performances, the series also included a range of workshops organised in collaboration with QF’s Herfah programme, enabling music lovers to engage with arts and cultural heritage, and explore the craft and science behind maqam.

‘Heart to Heart’ will continue with regular performances that celebrate the diversity and vitality of this Arabic musical tradition. Upcoming events will see Negar Bouban perform by the end of November in an edition titled ‘The Veil And The String: A Persian Lament’; Dr Ahmad AlSalhi, a Kuwaiti musician and researcher, perform in an edition titled ‘Sawt On The Coast Of The Arabian Gulf’ by the end of January; Fikret Karakaya perform ‘Maqamat Of The Ottoman Court’ in March; and Mohammed Antar perform ‘A Journey Through Maqam’ in May.