el Shams

El-Shams: A Radiant Musical Journey

The name „El-Shams“ (The Sun) was chosen for good reason. Through their music, they bring life and joy to their audience. The ensemble El-Shams, featuring two virtuoso musicians, performs oriental melodies from Syria, Egypt, and Turkey, as well as original compositions with Western influences. The interplay between the ancient oriental instruments – the kanun (oriental zither) and the Arabic reed flute nay – creates a captivating soundscape, blending the harp-like strings of the kanun with the enchanting tones of the Arabic nay flute. The music shifts from melodic moodscapes to captivating waves of the duo’s performance. During the concert, each of these unique historical instruments is showcased to its full potential, with the audience enthralled by the musicians’ virtuosic solos.

The addition of the oriental riq, the frame drum duff, and the goblet-shaped hand drum darabuka introduces further dynamics to the music. As a trio with a traditional line-up, they create a magnificent sonic landscape that takes the audience on a musical journey.

Rimonda Naanaa, Usaid Aldrobi, and Maren Lueg first met in 2019 through their work in various ensembles, such as the East West Pacem Orchestra and Ensemble Nagham. This collaboration inspired the two soloists to form a small ensemble. They invited Usaid Aldrobi to join them, and since 2019, they have regularly rehearsed together as a duo and trio, performing in concerts.

Rimonda Naanaa, based in Cologne, fled to Germany in 2015. She comes from a musical family in Damascus and chose to master the demanding plucked instrument, the kanun, from an early age. With a history of over 1,000 years, the kanun holds a prominent place in Arabic music. Rimonda combines musical passion and openness with a love for the music of her homeland, interwoven with Western influences. She performs regularly as a soloist and with various ensembles. Since 2019, she has been a member of the East West Pacem Orchestra, led by Maren Lueg.

Maren Lueg, from Hagen, holds a Master’s degree in Arabic and Turkish Ney Flute from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. She further deepened her expertise in Middle Eastern music through intensive study in Cairo and Istanbul. Maren leads numerous ensemble projects with musicians from Germany, Syria, and beyond.

Mohamad Usaid Aldrobi also fled from Syria to Germany, finding a new home in Essen. After completing his music studies in his hometown of Homs, he worked as an internationally recognised percussionist in Arabic music throughout the Middle East. He spent many years as an orchestral musician in Cairo and collaborated regularly with ensembles in Tunisia and Morocco. In Germany, Usaid quickly established himself as a prominent performer, giving regular concerts across North Rhine-Westphalia and Berlin with various groups, including the Husam Al-Ali Ensemble, Ensemble Nagham, East West Pacem Orchestra, and NRWedding Orchestra.

• Rimonda Naanaa: Kanun
• Maren Lueg: Arabic Nay Flute, Flute, and Soprano Saxophone
• Usaid Aldrobi: Darabuka, Duff, and Riq

Recordings & compositions by Rimonda Naanaa & Maren Lueg