This talk explores two essential concepts at the heart of Egyptian music: maqām (the melodic modes that shape the emotional character of the music) and taṭrīb (the artistry of ornamentation that creates musical ecstasy). Using examples from the exercises, improvisations, and compositions of the late Egyptian violin master Abdo Dagher, Riad Abdel-Gawad demonstrates how these principles come to life in performance — and why they continue to resonate with musicians and listeners today. The presentation offers an accessible window into a living tradition, bridging the technical and the spiritual, the local and the universal.

Riad Abdel-Gawad is an American-Egyptian violinist and composer based in Brussels. A direct disciple of the late Egyptian master Abdo Dagher, he has documented Dagher’s violin method through manuscript transcriptions spanning over two decades of apprenticeship. He holds a Ph.D. in Musical Composition from Harvard University and has performed internationally as a soloist and with his ensembles, including the Ziryab Jazz Quartet, Riad’s Takht, and the Ziryab Duo. His work bridges traditional Egyptian and Arabic music with contemporary jazz and new music. He has taught at the American University of Beirut and the American University in Cairo, and one of his compositions has been published by Oxford University Press.

The talk will be in English.