KEXP.ORG presents Rahim AlHaj performing live in the KEXP studio. Recorded March 17, 2017.
Rachel Pearson (violin)
Victoria Parker (violin)
Heather Bentley (viola)
Rajan Krishnaswami (cello)
Stephen Schermer (bass)
Issa Malluf (percussion)
Songs:
Letter 5. Going Home
Letter 6. Unspoken Word
Letter 4. The Last Time We Will Fly Birds
Host: Darek Mazzone
Audio Engineer: Kevin Suggs
Cameras: Jim Beckmann, Alaia D'Alessandro & Justin Wilmore
Editor: Jim Beckmann
kexp.org
www.rahimalhaj.com
The last time we will fly birds made me cry... as a Syrian 24 years old girl who had dreams, home and stability.. now all I have is the memories.. away from my home and my brotheres.. I didn't choose to live in this war but war has chosen me.....
we can feel you , hear you . all of us are your brothers and sisters .
May you and your family be blessed with safety and good health, and may Syria soon find peace.
Stay 💪❤️🌹 🙌 Salaam.
I feel your pain, courage dear
Send you love Zein
The content is of course amazing but as an audio engineer, I have to acknowledge the incredible audio quality of every single KEXP video I watch. Huge props to your engineers!
Reminds me of ECM back in the 80s. None better
Kevin Suggs. Dude is apparently a genius, his work is next level, uncanny.
God bless
So true.
Kevin Suggs is a LEGEND!
from iran with love to all of my friends in iraq and syria, i wish peace and friendship in near future.
🤜✨🤛❤️
🤜❤️🤛
As far as we stay away from politics everyone is welcome , friendship is between real simple people, we are tired of wars and politicians, greetings from an Algerian, art is beautiful war and blood are ugly
Amen
Amen
KEXP, you provide me salvation from the idiocy of VEVO. Amen
best comment. lol
Hahahahha! Are you a priest? :)
Word.. Good Sir.
@tyvek05 well come to the music industry
fucking amen
If i only came into this world with the desire to hear this... i made a wise decision.
I was a refugee who have lived in the refugee camp for about 10 years and of course it's horrible! I was a young kid then and it was the hardest life I can remembered. Music was all I had and I a broken acoustic guitar that gave me a sense of comfort. War is destruction and the chain reaction and pain it causes is unimaginable! Just like what he said, everybody lost!
I am so sorry ! With love from Belarus .
BELARUUUUS!!!
God bless you brother...I pray your heart sheds every bit of hurt it has recieved..and is healed by truth and true love. Be well..and never stop shining your light. Shalom
Hi there, I'm curious as to where you lived and what concentration camp.
I hope you are in a much better place in life today. 🙏 All _wars_ being orchestrated after WW2 are based on *GREED* by the major CORPORATIONS who truly rule + control the world. We are no longer a league of _Nations_ in which _leaders_ ( _such as Prime Ministers & Presidents_ ) preside over the people through the power of _voting_ --- we are now a global *CORPORATOCRACY* + people are nothing more than _currency_ to be "traded" between these *Corporate Slave Masters* who truly control us & the world. Im sorry you had to suffer + endure the *horrors* of this world at such a young age. During times of _war_ the only victims are the innocent children. _"War does not determine WHO is right --- only WHO is left!"_ --- Bertrand Russell
In my opinion this is the most emotional performance on KEXP live, so beautiful so real and so authentic!
0:27 Going Home 9:22 Unspoken Word 16:14 The Last Time We Will Fly Birds
Unspoken Word is incredible. I love it!
"The opposite of war is not peace, it's creation" Johnathan Larsson ♥
From Iran with lots of love to Iraqis and Syrians.This music talks to our souls the shared experience that we all went through.war, migration, always being homesick and rage is what i feel while I listen to this beautiful emotional music.love it.listened to it many time.Thanks Rahim Alhaj!
Unspoken Word just about made me break my office chair. The hauntingly beautiful rhythms are causing involuntary body movements. And the melancholy and emotion of the following piece...Wow.
25:20 can you see how emotional he gets by his music? seriously, this man is amazing. The interview was touching and the music was great. Thank you, KEXP and thank you Rahim.
I just cry feeling his emotions. he is a pure soul.
imagine giving rahim the microtonal banana lol
Rattle that snake.
Very much. His music is so sober and sombre
12 Bar Bruise
" War is quite frankly, destruction. You kill. it's easy. But making beauty is hard." I have never heard of this man before, but thanks to KEXP, I have now. I am dumbfounded that there are veterans who fought in war in the middle east, who now have children who are fighting in the same "war", that they once (and some more than once) have. Let that sink in. We all live on Earth. Not in different countries, but on one planet. That's it. Thank you KEXP for giving me the opportunity to hear this mans voice. PEACE
Yes, we are all one - we need to act as such and ignore politicians and their hidden masters, reach out in peace and together create harmony on this planet.
I have alway been saying, "if there is a life somewhere else, I would say I am from Earth". Therefore, I feel that not only saying it, I am from allover the world, but "the group of interest" has been dividing us and living on the conflict that we have been its "firewood". Thanks D. Scott for your beautiful comment!
You say it as if someone had something against people from the Middle east. I think war has nothing to do with music and culture, especially a war that is not a unique countrie's fault. Let us just enjoy the music without mentioning war.
Papa Ainz, if you listen to the entire recording, it is Rahim himself that mentions war, not I.
D. Scott ,👍
For anyone who is interested, first song is on the middle eastern scale of Kurd (on D) and the second song, unspoken words, is on the scale of Hijaz (on D)
The third song ( On 17th minute) is on the scale of Saba
Abdul Gemayyel I'd love to know more about what you've described!
well, in western music, you have the major and minor scale. lets take the note C C major: C D E F G A B C C minor: C D Eflat F G Aflat B C C Kurd: C Dflat Eflat F G Aflat Bflat C C Hijaz: C Dflat E F G Aflat Bflat C C Saba (has micro tonal): C D-half-flat Eflat Fflat G Aflat Bflat C
thanks!
Most welcome
14:25 - 15:46 watching them enjoy violinist Victoria Parker's solo is such a pleasure! And Rahim AlHaj thanking them after the song is over! My god! "Oh God that's good. That's wonderful, Tori! Thank you. You know my heart, Jesus Christ."
25:20 My God... my dear God... Sublime, beyond everything material, everything of this world.
I love you KEXP!
This is very special music. It's like a very emotional group therapy session with people who happen to be accomplished musicians.
No words can express how I feel. A flawless masterpiece can be seen as tragedy, and soul in every single note. It can be clearly seen that every musician understands this music and knows what they are playing. Infinite love, from Iran.
Arabic and Islamic culture have a great music heritage. Aoud, Quanon, Arabic flute (nai) directly speak to the heart... And capable Arabic musicians like him can go for hours leading a group of musicians, the same in concherto in orchestra. Proud to be descendent of this once great civilization
Still great. Just in a rough patch.
Trying to search for that second instrument just brought me Q-Anon conspiracy results lol
@@BuddhistJihad الة القانون There you go :)
@@brightworld7550 Oh brilliant, thanks!
Do not forget the older and great civilization the Arabs inherited a lot from, the Persians. This man definitely has the looks and the kind nature of a Persian.
The amount of respect each artist gives to each other in this performance is amazing. My hope is one day our politicians learn this trait.
This performance is just sublime. I love the setting - it looks almost like they're playing under the stars. Rahim speaks so passionately at the end. You can tell the radio presenter is just blown away. I can't stop listening to this album. 'Any women I hear about that don't have rights, I will fight for. Any children I hear about that don't have rights, I will fight for.'
I thank God, The Most Mighty and Most Merciful, for the beautiful talent of music he has given each performer. May He be pleased with how they use this gift to glorify Him.
I’m from Ukraine, and this performance expressed me at 2016, when I lost my first home because of russian aggression. And now this them is relevant again. Because now we have a big war in our country, and I lost my home at second time… this music helps to live difficult feelings
Great arrangements! Props especially to the lead violinist for really getting those microtones right, a lot of western classical musicians miss that when playing middle eastern music
What are microtones, pardon my ignorance?
Blame the piano. I do. ;-) Smaller pitch intervals than the half step, but can be defined as any tuning system that's outside the Western 12 tone equal temperament system. So many unfrettered subtleties with microtones. Imagine blues guitar playing without string bending - no, don't do that. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microtonal_music
Don't often get to see a musician who is so obviously in charge, zero self-doubt in his architecture. Incredible ensemble. Incredible station, thank you again KEXP.
Powerful. Hauntingly beautiful. One of the more extraordinary performances in this wonderful series. The music captures so much that can't be spoken fully in words.
KEXP's studio is actually pretty damn good, even string instruments can sound this good recorded. Never thought there's so much humanity and stories there could be from a musician.
Yep. Good sound studio. Pro crew.
great to hear acoustic music around here
True.
Oud is very powerful tool , that sound i hear in my whole body, it's really amazing instrument, of course with violin get more akcent entirety.
World class musicians, high quality sound, incredible stories that are expressed through music, Just thanks for sharing this!
Damn, I never thought that music could make me cry...
Thank you for waking my soul! How beautiful. I wish Americans would realize what they have allowed to happen...how much pain has been inflicted on a people they don't even know, cannot even imagine. They don't know the pain and they don't the beauty!
I really need to hug this man
"Unspoken Word" was my favourite.Emotion,dynamics and perfect collaboration of lute and violins.10/10 for the whole performance.
Wow, this was seriously beautiful!!! Thank you KEXP for giving us access to such gorgeous music from all around the world. Truly grateful!
I’m gonna get high-speed internet and share/spend these long lonely miles over the road with great music and songs. Thank you KEXP, great platform! Discovered many good unique musicians and artists here. ASalam-u Aleykum and Respect from a truck driver. Tajikistan Afghanistan Iran.
Love and respect to you brother
Aleykum selam, respect from Turkey
shambho Thosnk you! All the best
Ahmet Can Waleykumsalam Turkey, thank you -- same to you
❤️🌷
I have never seen such a REAL performance in my life; he sobs -- SOBS! -- at one point! It's not real BECAUSE he sobbed but that he felt the need to express his emotions through sobbing, and he did so. There is so much emotion wrapped up in this worthwhile session -- well worth half an hour! Thank you, Rahim AlHaj.
I've never not taken my eyes and ears off the screen for this long in a while
Thank you so much Rahim Alhaji and other musicians and KEXP, from IRAN!
Thank you so much especially for this. I hope Mr Rahim AlHaj's music and wise words may find a very very very huge lot of open ears and minds!
The first note of The Last Time We Fly Birds had my tears streaming down my face. I forgot how it felt to listen to such an emotional piece...
العبق القديم من بغداد التاريخ.....الذكريات
نعم
Thank you all so much! God bless you Rahim AlHaj... God bless us all
Soul touching
very beautiful music and performance 17:17 to 18:10 reminded me "Gracias a la Vida" by Violeta Parra Saludos desde Chile!
y tiene unas melodias de metallica por ahi
I love listening to this Arabic musical instrument called Oud
Every time I click on a new video by KEXP, I'm surely not disappointed by the different types of music they showcase. Great job!
Эта музыка.. Как те восточные сказки.. Что расказывала красавица Шахерезада своему султану, и уносилось Сознание в древние миры, где жара, яркое солце, синее небо, И отчаяная храбрость и благородный подвиг во имя Справедливости и Вечной Любви.!!! Это Волшебство.)))
Thank you KEXP, thank you Rahim Al Haj & fellow musicians.
It seems every time I stumble onto great music, KEXP has something to do with it... I am so happy to experience music like this!! Thank You, thank you, thank you!!
At Last I found a place that has The Eclectic music that I so much Missed
This music is exquisite. I am moved to tears putting this in the context of what his country has been through in recent years ... so emotive
Absolutely amazing music and orchestration. A wonderful musician from Iraq. "The last time we will fly birds" and "Unspoken words" almost made me cry.
This music is like an Arabian tale. It is magic.
This sounds like the soundtrack from an epic movie yet to be filmed.
I think it was the best concert i've ever heard from this channel.
Music is the reason why I still experience beauty
Ok, I admit, this music made me cry a bit.
رحيم الحاج ابن الثوره البار دامت أناملك أمتعتنا بمعزوفاتك السماويه وروحك النقيه اتمنى ان تقدم لنا معزوفاتك هنا في ڤينا حيث اتابع ،، مجهود اكثر من رائع للحاج وفرقته ، كل التحيات والمحبه
that instrument that sound at 7:00 its peruvian, the cajon peruano. first time i hear it in such beautiful music like this one.
I want to see more chamber music on kexp!
Word up!
Chamber music, please, everywhere
nah you dont
Chamber music please
YES!!!!
This is one of the most beautiful and touching performances I've ever watched. Listening to this in 2021 makes me want to cry even more than before. Thanks from the bottom of my heart and soul for this...
Beauty comes from the heart....war is hatred
Let's get religious, let's get politica, that's way more important than appreciating this beautifull music
"what is done for (divine) love always occurs beyond (earthly concepts of) good and evil." nietzsche Mashallah!! No name, the words you said have no wisdon nor truth
no name : you are islam
S A B O T A G E I fuck Allah in the ass
Geezlouise!!! I´d fuck and shot every muthafucka who had guts to say the opposite!!! God bless America!!
Amazing music. AMAZING SOUND. Loving it from Spain.
People too often forget where It all began. I am enchanted by what I have experienced so far
Love from Greece
🤜❤️🤛🇬🇷
i imagine this is what a metal band sounds like unplugged.
I revisited this video today. Funnily enough, the music is as beautiful as it was the first time! Thank you.
This is why KEXP is the best radio of the whole world!
La puesta en escena, es impecable. Demuestra que las bellas artes son la mejor expresión de la humanidad.
Impecable, cosa que no importo mucho al presentador, metido en su teléfono. Plop!
Thank you so much KEXP!
عااش خاالو رحيم
Música de beleza profunda e tocante. Somente coisas assim ultrapassam as fronteiras do tempo e do espaço. Música que eleva a nossa espécie, lembrando-nos de que somos capazes de transcender a barbárie que nos caracteriza em tantos momentos da história humana!
How is he thanking the violinist in between the pieces? Ive never seen that. Amazing. So friendly and close to each other, even during the sesson.
It happened to me sometimes. When you play someone else's music, the usually feel very gratefull. As a session musician, you have to give a lot of yourself when playing other people's music, opening your head (excuse my bad english here) to their music ideas, and what they want to say with their music. So... the string players in this performance are outstandingly good. No wonder he is thankfull with them! It isn't easy at all to play eastern music for western musicians.
In fact!!! They've just rehearsed one time!! They are trully amazing
Amazing !! Thanks for shearing!!
ما اجمل الفن العربي احساس و روح
أنه الأكثر تعبيرا ،أنه يحاكي الروح
what truth have they seen and how strong are their hearts that showing me just a glimpse of that truth, causes me to break and yet they play on. How?
Masterful, The Last Time We Will Fly Birds is just spectacular, thank you.
I love the cello. Everything is a miracle. Praise The Almighty.
SOME DAY MUSIC WILL UNITE HUMANITY NOT WAR/ RELIGION/RACE & NATIONALISM.THANKS FOR KEXP.ORG.♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷
Okay, guys, this is a gorgeous perfomance we have over here. Moreover the interview is very strong too.
thank you so much
as players we bring ourselves to the performance of our lives
I’ve been displaced from my home in Baghdad on 2006. I remember when I saw the front door of my house for the first time after displacement was at the end of 2009 that was a real pain to my soul😢. The last time we fly birds is mine💔
✨✨✨ Behind the headlines , destinies are broken, children are crying, mothers are begging god, men are kiling, hope is dieing. We all should think about it. So sad.
Thank you KEXP!
Thank you!
This is so special. Thank you guys.
Thank you for the music.
Utterly beautiful!
لقاء وموسيقى جميلة، هنا الكثير من المعنى والكثير من الجمال
That feeling of loss and melancholy that The Last Time We Will Fly Birds conveys, I'm blown away.
Thank You verry Much !
Thank you.
What a musical treat!
KZhead NEEDS an auto-replay setting, if only for this performance. I'd have it going all day.
Composed with the voice of every instrument in mind to say what the human voice cannot. The sounds of many hearts crying out at once in such agony and then the resolve of pushing through and keeping on. The voices of struggle and fight. Then the voices of light and hope. The voice of God at the speed of sound. What a master of emotion and poetic resonance! It was like listening to a prayer for humanity.
Thank you very much.
so touching!! thank you kexp
This made my day. Glad to hear such wonderful music and interview, the world needs more of this.
Hauntingly beautiful music. Superb musicianship. The story of the pigeons broke my ❤️. Made me cry. Thank you.
Fantastic! Almost crying with delight... Thanks KEXP