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The Oregonian, Concert Preview >>
Marcel Khalife: Playing for peace
Like his country, the renowned Lebanese musician Marcel Khalife often finds himself immersed in conflicts between larger forces. For decades the diminutive Mediterranean nation has been riven by sectarian strife, devastated by civil war and lately become ground zero in a proxy war involving Syria, Israel and Iran.
Khalife, a master of the oud (lute) and regarded as his nation's most esteemed composer, has been similarly buffeted by political crosswinds, because of his outspoken support for Palestinian rights. Still, his persistent efforts on behalf of peace and reconciliation resulted in Khalife being named a 2005 UNESCO Artist for Peace.
Some of his musical innovations have been as controversial to traditionalists as his political stances. Khalife began melding Muslim and Christian musical influences from the beginning of his career in the '60s, and has long worked to free the oud from archaic formal strictures. He's played many of the world's major music festivals, composed for film, dance and orchestra, and recorded more than 20 albums. During concert reveries with Khalife's Al Mayadine Ensemble (including sons Rami on piano and Bachar on percussion), listeners can imagine that the beauty of music can transcend the controversies that often engulf its creators.
-- Brett Campbell
Special to The Oregonian 10/26/07 >> go there
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