In Dubai’s vibrant live music scene you would have heard tunes from the strings of a guitar often mesh with the beats of a drum. At clubs the norm is pulsating sequences created by DJs on keyboards and synthesizers. But some of you might have been fortunate enough to have heard soul-stirring notes from the mythical harp or were transported to a historic Middle Eastern era listening to traditional oud and qanun music. Then consider yourself among a privileged few who have witnessed a slow but steady revolution wherein a small group of millennials in Dubai are playing live music with ancient roots.
Friday features four musicians who are strumming it hard to keep the magic of culturally-rich musical instruments alive in the emirates. Meet Kateryna Oliinyk, harpist at Kempinski Hotel, Mall of the Emirates. Dr Basel Debal, a general physician who is equally passionate about healing his patients as he is about playing the oud at cafes and at concerts. Nagham Debal, an architect by profession, is one of the few female qanun players in the UAE and Graham McKay, an engineer by day, and a bagpiper by evening, is carrying on the banner of the Scottish Highland Bagpipes in Dubai. Here’s a glimpse of their musical journey.
Kateryna Oliinyk, 27, from Ukraine, plays the harp
It was love at first sight for Kateryna when at the age of seven she saw a lady harpist tuning a giant golden harp minutes before an orchestra performance in her hometown Kiev. ‘My eyes literally popped out when I spotted this huge instrument with golden strings. It looked straight out of a fairy tale. My fingers were itching to touch it. During the concert I was equally blown by its melodious sound,’ she recalls. As soon as she was back home, all she wanted to do was to learn to play the harp. Her parents tried their best to steer her towards more popular and easily available violin and guitar classes. But she stuck to her decision. Incidentally, a few days later a harp teacher visited Kateryna’ s school advertising about lessons and so began her lyrical journey.
One of the oldest musical instruments in the world, the harp was developed from a hunting bow and has featured in the wall paintings of ancient Egyptian tombs dating as early as 3,000 BC. ‘When I am playing the harp I am transported to another world. I feel very calm and totally at peace with life.’
The pedal harp, that Kateryna, finally got to touch and play at the music school was almost six feet high and weighed 36kg. ‘The first few years I was standing and playing the harp and later I had to put cushions on a chair to raise my height to play it sitting.’
While her friends rolled footballs and rode bicycles after school, Kateryna would spend many hours at the music school learning to play the harp. Her teacher saw potential in her and gave her tougher notes to practice early on. ‘There were times when I found it hard to keep pace with the intensity of the music lessons. My fingers tips would be sore and painful.... then my love for playing the harp would keep me going.’
From 1997 to 2005, Kateryna balanced her school studies along with music lessons. After high school when it came to choosing a career there was no confusion as her heart was set on a music. At the Kiev Institute of Music R.M. Gliera she pursued junior specialist and Bachelor’s music programme in orchestral string instruments. Along with her studies, Kateryna would perform in orchestras and at events. During her graduation she became part of an all-girl Ukranian band called Symfomania. ‘Being part of the band gave me a wider experience. I performed on an electro harp using digital processors to alter the sound of the harp. Composing original music pieces, playing at over hundred stage events in front of large crowds in various parts of Europe boosted my confidence and strengthened my technique.’
An assignment to play the harp at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Dubai Marina, brought Kateryna to the UAE in 2015. Today she has widened her repertoire and has performed at weddings, public events and teaches harp to kids in the city. During the day you will find her rendering soulful tunes on her harp at the Kempinski Hotel, Mall of the Emirates. ‘From classical compositions such as Mozart and Bach to Arabic music of Fairuz and the latest Bruno Mars songs I love performing a variety of tunes.’
The harp is a challenging instrument to play and Kateryna admits that even an hour long performance can take a toll on the harpist’s back and hands. She takes breaks every 40 minutes and has to do regular gym workouts to be in shape. ‘The best moments are when I get flowers and thank you notes from strangers with messages that my music made them cry.’
Graham McKay, 31, from Scotland plays the bagpipe
At weddings and festivals, the highlight for young Graham McKay, was the part when the band of bagpipers, dressed in traditional Scottish Kilts, played loud tunes. Growing up in Coatbridge, near Glasgow, Graham, was mesmerised each time he heard the pipers. ‘I yearned to hold a big bagpipe and blow into one of its drones.’ But it took him years to convince his parents. ‘Finally, when I was nine I was enrolled in a local consul music school for lessons.’ For ten months, an hour every week, he first practised blowing into a chanter, a wind instrument with holes. Before learning to blow into a bagpipe, the chanter prepares the student for finger co-ordination and the blowing.
His first bagpipe was a Christmas present from his parents. ‘But when I finally started practicing on it, I found it very tough. It’s a big instrument, I had to balance the bag under my arm and at the same time use my fingers on the chanter and blow with full might. Unlike other instruments that allow you to pause between notes while playing a bagpipe once you begin, the blowing and the finger co-ordination cannot stop until the end of the song.’
The Great Scottish Highland Bagpipe, that Graham plays, is stepped in history. Its origins can be traced to the Middle East. Earlier versions of these pipes have been mentioned in the Bible. With time they travelled through Europe and evolved into their present day versions. Today Highland Bagpipes are synonymous with Scotland and are even used by the British army.
As it takes almost two years to learn to master the pipes the physically and mentally challenging process sees many beginners quit mid-way. ‘For me it was the realisation of a cherished childhood dream that also helped me keep Scottish history and culture alive. My teacher’s travel stories with the bagpipe across the world further fuelled the love for the instrument.’
Within a couple of years of his first bagpipe training class, by the age of 11 Graham became heavily involved in the pipe band circle in Coatbridge. He spent a lot of his time after school practising and playing with the bands. ‘The first band I joined was the East Kilbride (Grade 4). I would play with them one night for two hours every week and practise for about 30 minutes at home.’
With time he moved bands and was eventually part of three more bands – Strathclyde Fire Brigade (Grade 3), Shotts and Dykehead (Grade 1) and Glasgow Police band (Grade 1). ‘Piping has given me the opportunity to play in various concerts, competitions and events. I have performed in England, Germany, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, South Africa and New York. Piping events have been as diverse as playing on Scottish National TV on New Year’s Eve (watched by two million viewers) to marching through rows of crowds on Tartan Day in New York’s sixth avenue.’
While Graham actively participated in the pipe band events his parents made sure that he did not neglect his formal education. ‘The rule at home was do your homework and then go for pipe practice.’ After high school for a few months he was indecisive about whether to pursue music education or an engineering degree. He picked the latter and studied product design engineering. ‘I felt if I am not able to make it as a musician I will still have my education to fall back on. Today I think I made the best decision and am able to enjoy the best of both worlds.’
The engineering company – Barr + Wary – that he worked for in Glasgow offered Graham a job in Dubai in 2014. ‘One of my first Google searches before moving to Dubai was to find if there was a pipe band in the UAE, and luckily I found the Dubai Pipe Band and joined it as soon as I arrived.’ Part of the Scottish Association, the Dubai Pipe Band, comprises pipers and drummers from all walks of life. They come together for various music gigs. ‘From playing at a local Emirati wedding where I was the only male other than the groom to being featured in a track with the Universal label signed rock band, The Boxtones, I have had some unforgettable piping experiences in Dubai.’
Graham has recently taken over the charge of the Dubai Pipe Band (scotsindubai.com) as the former leader shifted base. Apart from carrying on the Caledonian tradition, he is most excited about spreading the music to the next generation. The band members offer free classes every Tuesday to beginners and experienced pipers.
Dubai-raised Syrians Dr Basel Al Debal, 25, plays the oud and Nagham Al Debal, 26, plays qanun
Music flows in the veins of the Debal siblings – Basel and Nagham. Born to Syrian musician parents based in Dubai their home is a haven of melodies. Dad, Kamal Debal, a music teacher in a school, plays a range of instruments including the keyboard, guitar, oud, violin and the Darbuka drums. Mum Ramzya Akabani, also a music teacher, specialises in playing the accordion. ‘Growing up music surrounded our lives. My earliest childhood memories are of family picnics in parks where my father would play the oud and a crowd would gather to hear him,’ reminisces Basel, who learnt to play the oud from his dad at the age of nine.
His elder sister Nagham showed potential early on. At two years, she could sing the songs her parents were listening to and by the age of five she started playing the accordion, xylophone, flute and the violin. But it was not until she was nine that she first spotted the qanun and took an instant liking to it. ‘We were part of a children’s orchestra in Sharjah when I noticed a girl playing the qanun. I was intrigued by this unique musical instrument and felt a strong urge to learn to play it,’ she recalls.
Both Basel and Nagham trained with their father after school. Interestingly, although they could play a variety of musical instruments they chose to specialise in these ancient Middle Eastern instruments. ‘It was not a conscious decision but something that happened naturally. In school and college I was the only one playing the oud and this instilled in me a sense of pride,’ says Basel, who trained every day for two hours.
Derived from the Arabic word meaning ‘wood’ – the oud – holds an integral role in the Arab civilisation. The instrument is one of mankind’s oldest string instruments dating back to the Akkadian empire 2350 BC in ancient Mesopotamia. The qanun too is central to Arabic music. Known to trace its origins from the ancient Egyptian harp, its earliest mention is in the book Kitab al-Musiqa al-Kabir by the 10th century musician al-Farabi. Shaped like a trapezoid the qanun has around 76 strings and is usually played seated with it on the lap or on a table. ‘The musical instruments we play have today become part of our identity. In school and college I was known as Nagham qanun.’
Although they were excelling in musical competitions in school and participating in several public events both Nagham and Basel chose to not pursue a career in music. ‘Our parents were always clear that music should be our passion not profession. They wanted us to pursue alternate careers as they felt earning a living as professional musicians is challenging,’ says Basel. He completed his MBBS degree from the University of Sharjah in 2016 and is currently doing an internship in Rashid Hospital, Dubai. Nagham, meanwhile, studied architecture from the University of Ajman and graduated in 2015. She is today a self-employed architect and interior designer.
Leading this dual life – balancing their careers and musical interests – has not been easy for the duo. ‘There have been many dark days where I have had to make tough choices between studies and music. Before my MBBS exams there were times when I also had to perform at events. I would study for more than six to seven hours with barely any time left to rehearse before the programmes,’ says Basel. However, their music gigs gave them a financial edge as they could contribute to the family income and partly fund their own studies.
From government summits to weddings and shopping festivals Basel and Nagham have performed live at a string of venues. Nagham excels in playing traditional Arabic songs as well as modern mashups on her qanun. ‘From Fairuz’s Sa’alouni al Nas to Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You I like playing a mix of Arabic and English songs,’ says Nagham. In 2017 she composed and sang Ya Emmi, a song dedicated to mothers.
On his oud, Basel plays a mix of traditional and modern Arabic music. He is also influenced by various western music styles including jazz, rock and flamingo. Both of them have performed live at various locations during Dubai Shopping Festivals, Dubai Summer Surprises, National Day, at the World Government Summit Dubai 2016 as well as at weddings, university events and concerts. ‘When people stop looking at their phones and give us their undivided attention, that’s the biggest compliment,’ says Nagham. For her an unforgettable moment was when during an event His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rahid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister and Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, stopped by to listen to her.
She plans to conduct online classes to train others to play the qanun one day. Basel, on the other hand, dreams of cutting an international album and is also debating his MD specialistion between neuroscience and emergency medicine.
