Acoustic Roots: Trio Qasyon and guests

In November, the Trio Qasyon is our guest in Acoustic Roots, the monthly live programme that is recorded in the atmospheric cellar of the Kargadoor on the Oudegracht in Utrecht.

This ensemble is based around the two young Syrians sisters Jawa en Shaza Manla. They arrived in the Netherlands in July 2015 after travels through Egypt and Turkey. They have since played in many venues in the Netherlands including the Houtfestival in Haarlem, Incubate in Eindhoven, Le Guess Who? in Utrecht, and have appeared in the television programme VPRO Vrije Geluiden.

Jawa en Shaza Manla are accompanied in Qasyon by a percussionist. For this concert they will also be joined by the pianist Julian Schneemann and the bassist Camiel Jansen. They will be playing oriental music; both classical and popular Arabic music (including music made popular by Um Kultum).

Ud competition

Ud player Jawa Manla (21) is one of the greatest musical talents in Syria. She was already touring as a professional musician through Egypt, Lebanon, Oman and Turkey at an early age. She performed with well-known orchestras and was taught by the greatest ud players. In 2009 she won a prestigious international ud competition that resulted in a scholarship with the Libanese ud grandmaster Sharbel Rohana. She was then only 13 years old. Two years later whe won the main prize at the same competition. Jawa is now a student at Codarts Rotterdam.

Arabic harp

Shaza Manla (13), Jawa's younger sister, plays qanun. The qanun is similar to the cimbalom, and is also known as the Arabic harp. She plays together with her sister in the ensemble Qasyon, which is named after the highest mountain in Syria. Shaza is able to immediately play all the music that she hears on the qanun. Last year, she also took part in the New Year's concert by the Nederlands Blazer Ensemble.

Audience welcome

Acoustic Roots is recorded each month in the cellar of the Kargadoor. You are welcome to be present during the recording but there is only room for about 30 people, so you need to be there on time to be sure of getting in.

Trio Qasyon:

• Jawa Manla, vocals, ud
• Shaza Manla, qanun
• Jacobus Thiele, percussion
• Julian Schneemann, piano
• Camiel Jansen, bass

Jawa en Shaza Mania on YouTube.

Acoustic Roots in De Kargadoor
with Trio Qasyon:

• Friday 10 November 2017
• Oudegracht 36, 3511 AP Utrecht
• venue open 20:00 uur, concert starts 20:15
• Tickets €5,00

The recording will be broadcast a week later on 17 November 2017 from 21:00 – 22:00 CET.