Itraab Music Ensemble
Established in 2014 as a project of the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech, the Itraab Music Ensemble explores classical, traditional, and contemporary repertoire from South and Southwest Asia and North and East Africa, as well as their diasporas. The group’s name translates as “the act of enchanting by music” and is a nod to the Tarab style of music that enjoyed a golden age in the early- to mid-20th century.
Under the direction of Anne Elise Thomas, Ph.D., an ethnomusicologist with over 30 years of experience studying and performing Arab musical traditions on the qanun (a 78-stringed zither), the multigenerational community ensemble performs publicly several times per year, both on and off campus. Instrumentation is flexible and typically includes violin, viola, cello, bass, `ud (an 11-stringed Arab lute), nay (a reed flute), percussion, and vocals. Some repertoire includes flute, clarinet, guitar, accordion, and other instruments, in addition to dance.
Itraab members engage in both musical instruction and dialogue on language, history, and culture. The ensemble often hosts guest artists to teach and perform with them; past guests include percussionist Ali Analouei, multi-instrumentalist Karim Nagi, hip-hop artist Omar Offendum, Iranian-American fusion group Niyaz, violinist Sami Abu Shumays, dance performer and educator Esraa Warda, and specialists of Arab-Andalusian traditional music Aïcha Redouane and Habib Yammine. The ensemble also partners with local community groups, including the Blacksburg Refugee Partnership, the YMCA at Virginia Tech, and various cultural groups and centers on campus.
Interested in Joining?
Itraab welcomes new students, faculty, staff, and community members at the beginning of each semester, with rehearsals on Sunday afternoons during the academic year. Prior musical experience is a plus but not required. Virginia Tech students can also register for Itraab as a one-credit course through the School of Performing Arts.
For more information, email itraab@vt.edu.