shareen - 2-26-2009 at 03:32 PM
Shalom wa salaam Mikes Oud members. I would love to have a gathering of our forum members when I come to visit next month...already spoke to Nizzar,
Marina, anyone else out there who wants to meet to play some music, our universal language? Maybe get together at Abu Ala and have an oud salon (just
an idea). I know there are a few members out there I haven't touched base with so why not shoot me a U2U or respond here. I will be participating in
an interesting music festival and peace type event along the Israel trail and if anyone is interested in doing that I can let you know all about it.
Hope to see you there,
Masel - 2-26-2009 at 05:02 PM
You mean the walk of love? I won't be there (not my thing) but I'd like to get together some people and play of course.
As a side note if you've never been here before I'd recommend going to palestine as well to see the place for yourself - and I don't mean from behind
a settlement fence - I can probably help you with that if you want.
shareen - 2-26-2009 at 06:57 PM
Hi Masel. I've been there many times. I have been to Palestine, as well (not in the settlements) and would love to go there again, this time, in a
musical environment with some more personal connections, so yes, I welcome your help with that. Yes, it is the Walk about Love. I never know if
these sort of things are anything more than vanity projects but if just two people meet and bond with each other with different ideas and from
different walks of life, it makes one small difference in the world. It's just my naive 60's way of thinking I guess, but I'm glad I feel like that.
I can only imagine what life is like under occupation, as a comfy America, so it's easy for me to say that. I've been on tours with the center for
Jerusalem studies, which is part of Al Quds University but only in J'lem. I welcome your introductions! Peace. 
John Erlich - 2-27-2009 at 09:14 AM
Shalom/Salaam Shireen,
It sounds like you're pretty well connected on the Israeli side. Don't forget to check out the "Eastern Music Institute" in Jerusalem.
On the Palestinian side...
Try contacting Samer Totah http://www.samertotah.com/ , an accomplished oudist and oud builder who lives in Ramallah. I have never met him, but have exchanged emails (and
CDs) with him, and he seems like a very nice guy. He might remember my name...or that of other Forum members.
Another good resource might be Adel Salameh http://www.adelsalameh.com/ , who is from Nablus, but lives in France. I have not met him, either, but also exchanged emails & CDs with him.
He also seems like a very nice and helpful person. (Some other Forum members know him quite well.)
If you want to get involved in peacemaking activities, especially those with a spiritual bent, contact Eliyahu McLean http://jerusalempeacemakers2008.jerusalempeacemakers.org/eliyahu/ho... . He organizes some really amazing activities. Also, I assume you know about Rabbis for Human Rights - http://rhr.israel.net/ .
Have a good and safe journey,
John
shareen - 2-27-2009 at 12:23 PM
Hey John, Yeah, I know all about Eliyahu's work. Met him here in the States. Great guy. I love idealists. We need more of them. My wish is that I
get invited into a family's home in Palestine where I can have a musical and cultural exchange (kind of like what goes on at the Arabic music
retreat). I've had experiences like that over the years in various countries I've visited Don't feel that it's a good idea just wandering there
alone with an an escort and an invitation.
John Erlich - 2-27-2009 at 04:29 PM
I think Samer Totah will be a great resource. Also, you might try asking the Friends School in Ramallah (http://www.palfriends.org/) for contacts. I visited their campus in 1998.
Brian Prunka - 2-27-2009 at 04:58 PM
Shareen, do you know Bridget Robbins? She plays nay and is involved with Simon's retreat. She has spent a lot of time in Ramallah teaching flute and
nay, and I'm sure could connect you to some musicians there.
Masel - 2-28-2009 at 12:19 AM
Brian, what is this Simon's retreat? I really don't know any places or people in palestine that teach or gather musicians unfortunately.
Brian Prunka - 2-28-2009 at 10:54 AM
Simon Shaheen's retreat is in Massachusetts every year in August.
He usually comes to Israel and the West Bank once or twice a year for performances and conducts workshops while he's there. The workshops are in
Arabic usually, and if they are advertised to the public at all, it is only in Arabic. Often he just collaborates with a school to work with their
students. When I was there, he did a workshop in Haifa, and one in Ramallah at Birzeit University.
He also often does workshops in Lebanon, usually once a year (in Beirut, I believe).
shareen - 2-28-2009 at 08:57 PM
Thank you, Brian. I will contact Samer and Bridgette. Masel, were are you in Israel? Would you want to get together with some Mike's Ouds folks for
an informal gathering? Think it would be great fun. I recorded part of my CD there last year with some really great players. Ererz Monk played
tabla and other percussion. Amazing player. There really is a great cross cultural music scene going on there, since Israelis tend to travel a lot.
I didn't know that Simon also teaches when he is there. I only go to the retreat in the States.
shareen - 2-28-2009 at 09:25 PM
Thank you, Brian. I will contact Samer and Bridgette. Masel, were are you in Israel? Would you want to get together with some Mike's Ouds folks for
an informal gathering? Think it would be great fun. I recorded part of my CD there last year with some really great players. Ererz Monk played
tabla and other percussion. Amazing player. There really is a great cross cultural music scene going on there, since Israelis tend to travel a lot.
I didn't know that Simon also teaches when he is there. I only go to the retreat in the States.
Masel - 2-28-2009 at 10:43 PM
Yes it would be fun. I live near tel-aviv in a village called zofit but I spend more time in tel-aviv than I like.. I think there is a great cross
cultural scene but mainly POTENTIALY, at least in tel-aviv. Middle-eastern music is more of a novelty for most young generations here, but jerusalem
is better, as any area outside the center, I'd imagine.
There is also a weekly gathering in Yair Dalal's studio in the jaffa port where we sit and play. It's not really weekly at all but sometimes very
interesting people show up and the music is great.
What cd do you have? Do you play oud? Sing?
shareen - 3-1-2009 at 07:26 PM
I'd love to meet at Yair's studio. I met him and was in his studio in Yaffo last year. I was trying to get a music retreat similar to the Arabic
Music retreat here, with Palestinians and Israelis, but the politics were too difficult. I am a composer, singer, guitarist and most recently oud,
(playing only about a year and a half, but quite obsesses). I play a style of guitar that works very well with the oud, with flamenco influences. I
love Adel Salmeh's CD with the flamenco guitarist. I recorded part of my CD with Yoel ben Simchon and some of his friends who play Turkish, Iraqi and
Moroccan style music. U2U me your phone number. When do you meet at Yair's place?