The Daily Cougar

Issue date: 10/25/07 Section: Life & Arts

Media Credit: Photo courtesy of Nagam Records, Inc. Despite recognition by the United Nations, Marcel Khalife faces discrimination for his music, through which he advocates peace and hopes to "to give expression to human emotion in its purest, most glorious manifestations."

In Lebanon he is known as one of the most respected and provocative Middle Eastern musicians of his day. Named United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Artist for Peace in 2005 for his artistic achievements and humanitarian work, Marcel Khalife, composer and oud (Near Eastern lute) master will be performing at 8 p.m. Friday at the Stafford Centre, 10505 Cash Road.

Al Mayadine Ensemble with Peter Herbert and Mark Helias on bass, Rami Khalife on piano and Bachar Khalife on percussion will join Marcel Khalife.

"If artists help wipe out fear, give society an emotional spark or inspire emotions through aesthetic means, that is very important," Khalife said in a television interview.

Khalife's program will be drawn from both his instrumental and lyrical repertoire. He will perform instrumental work and both old and new lyrical works primarily drawn from the poetry of the Arab world's most distinguished poet, Mahmoud Darwish.

At age 14, Khalife studied at the National Conservatory of Music in Beirut, Lebanon, and moved on to study classical music theory in college.

Pianist Rami Khalife also studied at the Julliard School in New York from 2000 to 2003, studying piano under the Hungarian pianist Gyorgy Sandor.

Accompanied by his music ensemble, Khalife has performed in almost all of the Arab countries, Europe, the United States, Canada, South America, Australia and Japan with his music ensemble.

Extracts from his most recent album, Taqasim, a composition for oud, percussion and double bass, can be heard on his Web site, www.marcelkhalife.com.

Khalife and Al Mayadine Ensemble will perform from the latest album as well as compositions that have yet to be released. Currently, they are recording for their new album at Houston's own Sunrise Studio.

National Public Radio considers Khalife an "artistic revolutionary and cultural icon whose songs have a power beyond mere words and music."

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