Marwan Abado

Marwan Abado is a Palestinian singer, composer and oud player. (The oud is an oriental, short-necked lute.) Abado's music has its roots in the classical Arabic musical tradition of the taq'sim, which is not restricted to particular rhythms, but which springs from the inner impulses of the musician. Contemporary Arab poetry and prose often provide the inspiration for Abado's lyrics; thought-provoking commentary on the political realities of the Palestinians is interwoven through his texts.

These songs add a unique dimension to contemporary Arabic music by forging a new relationship between performer and audience, challenging the audience to listen carefully to the words of the songs and to experience the quiet melodies — in contrast to a tradition of being transported by a rhythmic repetition of phrases which transcend meaning and sweep the audience away on a tide of feeling. Deliberately distancing himself from the genre of didactic protest songs which raise a scolding finger to the audience, Abado chooses a poetic register for his songs, whose themes fall somewhere between lamenting sorrow and courageous hope. His music is an improvisational mix of Oriental forms and Western elements.

— Courtesy Calabash Music