Last Saturday night I experienced a concert extraordinaire by three brothers who play the oud, with their accompanist on percussion. The Joubran Trio performed at Sundin Hall at Hamline University, part of a multi-city tour through the U.S. and Canada. As extraordinary as their performance, is their origin: The performers are all from Palestine. Their music is impeccable, and the performance uniquely their own. Each brother plays an oud, designed and constructed by the middle brother. They come from a family that has been in the oud playing and building business for generations. Their original compositions are highly moving and incredibly energetic. And they also played a sing-along version of a traditional folk song, which several audience members knew and sang with the oldest of the brothers.
Nothing about the performance was political; it was all about the music, and also about the pride these musicians have for their culture and their family's history. While listening to the concert I could not help but wonder how they had overcome the odds of getting caught up in the battleground of their homeland to pursue their passion. And so they portray a side of Palestinian life that is little known to those of us who have been reading news for far too many years of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Joubran Trio demonstrate through their music a humanity and highly developed skill that all the world can appreciate and understand. Their performance was a gift of hope. Regardless of the oppression characterizing their homeland, their music flourishes and thrives.
If you have an opportunity to see them in concert, by all means, go! If not, you can learn more about their music and listen a while at their website:
http://www.letriojoubran.com/en
