Abdalla El-Masri

Abdalla Hani El-Masri (born 1962, Beirut) is a Lebanese^[1]Russian composer, now resident in Kuwait, of mostly orchestral and chamber works that have been performed in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

Life and career

El-Masri studied guitar with Isaac Escaf at a music school in Hammana from 1977–79 and studied guitar and music theory with Joseph Ashkhanyan at the Centre Culturel Espagnol in Beirut from 1979-82. He then studied composition with Konstantin Batashov and Roman Ledenyov, harmony with Yuri Kholopov and orchestration with Nikolai Rakov at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow from 1982–93, where he earned his MFA in 1991 and DMus in 1993.

Among his honors is an honorable mention in the young composers competition of the Tchaikovsky Conservatory (1988). He has been an active member of the Russian Composers Union since 1998. His music has been performed in Egypt, France, Germany, Kuwait, Lebanon, Russia, and Switzerland.

El-Masri is also active in other positions. He founded the vocal ensemble Al-Jabal in 1977 and wrote songs for it from 1977-82. Later he founded the vocal ensemble Al-Wilada in 1984, which performed in Germany and Russia, and disbanded in 1990. In addition, he has written the books Practical Course of Orchestration (1995, Kuwait Higher Institute of Music) and Instruments of the Orchestra (2001, Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Beirut).

As a guitarist, he worked with the vocal ensemble Al-Mayadin (directed by Marcel Khalife) from 1977–82 and also arranged music for this group. He was also active as a guitarist in various ensembles in Lebanon from 1979–82 and toured Europe and the USA in 1982. He has taught composition at both the Kuwait Higher Institute of Music in Kuwait City and PAAET Kuwait since 1994. He has also lectured in Kuwait and Russia.

In addition to the works listed below, El-Masri has composed much stage music.

Complete list of works

Orchestral

• Samaii, nay, riqq, string orchestra, 1983-86 (section of In Arabic Mood II; may be performed separately);
• Symphony No. 1, 1991;
• Symphony No. 2, small orchestra, 1994;
• Violin Concerto, 2001;
• Piano Concerto, 2003;
• "Matar" for mezzo-soprano, piano and orchestra, 2010;
• Oud Concerto, 2011
• Cello Concerto, 2012

Chamber music

• Sonata, violin, piano, 1985;^[2] String Quartet, 1985–86;
• Quintet, clarinet, harp, violin, viola, cello, 1986;
• Suite, flute, piano, 1986;
• In Arabic Mood I, 1986-87 (each of its four sections may be performed separately: [1] flute, clarinet, bassoon; [2] string quartet; [3] oboe, violin, cello, piano; [4] 2 trumpets, 2 trombones);
• Three Moods, E-flat clarinet, clarinet, bass clarinet, basset horn, 1988;
• Elegy, violin, cello, piano, 1989;
• Guitar Quartet, 4 guitars, 1996

Choral

• In Arabic Mood II (vocalise), 1983-86 (each of its two sections may be performed separately: [1] Samaii, nay, riqq, string orchestra; [2] small mixed chorus, string orchestra)

Vocal

• Poème (text by Paul Shaul), baritone, cello, piano, 1987;
• "Matar" for mezzo-soprano, piano and orchestra (choral Ad.lib), 2010;

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