ABOUT
Ramal Ensemble
is a group of Syrian musicians that was founded in Damascus in 2011. The project creates interaction between traditional oriental music and western classical music; juxtaposing authentic performances like in traditional Arabian music and the structure of western classical compositions.
The Ensemble consists of four musicians who are studying western classical music. Between 2014 and 2015 they escaped the civil war in their native Syria and came to Germany, where they found a safe stay and continued his career as a musician. While continuing their studies, they have collaborated individually with musicians from other ensembles and played with many different musicians. After they moved to Berlin in 2016, the idea of reestablishing the Ramal Ensemble came up.
The ensemble combines traditional Middle Eastern music and contemporary-modern music. Their style travels across the different musical backgrounds of its members and therefore varies between Arabic maqam and classical western harmonies or structures. One special thing about the Ramal Ensemble: it also presents its own works, in which the four musicians combine stylistic elements of European classical music with traditional Syrian-Oriental musical forms in a virtuoso manner. This virtuosity gives the music new authenticity and lively expression.
The ensemble’s passion for traditional music led them to conduct many workshops for traditional Arabic and intercultural music in Europe and to participate in many international festivals such as Weimar Kunst Fest, Rudolstadt Festival, Roskilde Festival in addition to performing in different music halls in Germany, Netherlands, Denmark and other European countries.
In late 2019, the ensemble merged with Barzakh gGmbH, which was founded by Ghassan Hammash in Berlin with the aim of supporting artists* from the Arab region in exile.
Ramal Ensemble cooperates with KulturLeben Berlin – Schlüssel zur Kultur e.V. and Barenboim Said-Akademie.
Ramal also cooperates with artists from other fields including dance and literature. The ensemble stands for musical diversity and openness as well as for musical influences from all cultures, which leaves room for improvisation and innovation.
