QPO Deputy Executive Director, Dr. Nasser Sahim
Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra (QPO) has established itself as an Ambassador of the Gulf region musical heritage.
This was disclosed by QPO Deputy Executive Director, Dr. Nasser Sahim. “This year, we have received numerous requests from GCC countries, indicating our role as an ambassador of Gulf musical heritage,” he told The Peninsula.
Dr. Sahim revealed that QPO has received invitations not only from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries but also from other nations such as Turkiye, China, and Korea.
“We have performed the musical heritage from the Gulf region through these interactions. It’s important that we continue to compose and arrange more music to present through the Philharmonic. This platform allows us to showcase our heritage to different countries and let them understand and appreciate it. Numerous universities are requesting our music scores to analyze our forms and styles, which highlights the importance of our work,” he added.
Over the past years, the Philharmonic has been integrating Gulf folk music into Western orchestral compositions. In 2022, they premiered a special performance that fused Western orchestral music with traditional Gulf folk genres, emphasising Qatar’s rich maritime history and the art of ‘Fijiri,’ a traditional form of music associated with pearl divers. Dr. Sahim composed the music for this event, with Dr. Amer Jaffar from Kuwait and Mansour Al Mohanadi, a Qatari singer providing vocals for the performance.
In 2023, QPO opened its season with “Gulf Folk meets the Philharmonic,” blending traditional Gulf folk music with Western orchestral sounds to preserve and enhance the unique cultural heritage of the Gulf region. Dr. Sahim stressed the importance of promoting Gulf folk music, particularly Qatari folklore. He explained that presenting local music through orchestral arrangements not only showcases the nation’s themes and cultures but also acts as a bridge for cross-cultural understanding.
Discussing the integration and rearrangement of traditional songs, the Deputy Executive Director acknowledged the challenges involved: “You have to ensure proper arrangement and harmonization when adapting these pieces for orchestral performance,” he noted. Moreover, he said that “it’s not easy, but ultimately it’s a valuable experience, an educational journey, and has a big role [in the preservation and spread of our musical heritage.”
