Earlier this year, we announced Istimrar, a new commissioning project we’re supporting our friends at Irtijal Festival in producing. Through Istimrar, we’re supporting Irtijal in a series of newly commissioned works by Lebanese musicians, keeping the creativity of local artists alive.
As a result of a year of social and economic turmoil, Lebanon’s usually vibrant music scene has experienced severe challenges, with events and performances in Beirut coming to a standstill. This period of time has drastically affected the opportunities available for musicians working in Lebanon. Istimrar addresses this difficult period for artistic communities, keeping the local music sector alive through a continued committment to new creative work, and a platform on which it can thrive.
We’re delighted to share Irtijal’s first wave of commissions for Istimrar, which went to twelve composers and musicians currently living in Lebanon: Jad Atoui, Abed Kobeissy, Jawad Nawfal, Julia Sabra, Ghassan Sahhab, Anthony Sahyoun, Jana Saleh, Nour Sokhon Elyse Tabet, Fadi Tabbal and Cynthia Zaven.
You can listen to all of these commissions, which make up the first phase of Istimrar now via Irtijal’s Bandcamp page below. Find out more about Istimrar here.