RONNIE MALLEY: ZIRYAB, THE SONGBIRD OF ANDALUSIA

OCTOBER 22 @ 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Benaroya Hall: Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall

200 University St
Seattle, WA 98101 United States + Google Map

From 9th century Islamic Spain to present day America

Oudist Ronnie Malley presents his original musical narrative about the life of Ziryab, a 9th century musician and polymath, who traveled from Baghdad to Muslim Spain and shifted the course of history. 2023 Recipient of the Michael Jaffee Visionary Award of Chamber Music America,

“Ronnie Malley’s musicianship is superb and his interweaving of his own life with the story of Ziryab’s, as well as his highly-informative discourse on the medieval master’s legacy, make for an enlightening performance.” — Jacob Davis, chicagocritic.com

Ziryab, The Songbird of Andalusia

– SOLO PLAY WRITTEN & PERFORMED BY RONNIE MALLEY

TAKE AN ENCHANTING MUSICAL JOURNEY FROM 9TH CENTURY ISLAMIC SPAIN TO PRESENT DAY AMERICA. ARABIC MUSIC, POETRY, AND SONGS BREATHE LIFE INTO THE STORY OF ZIRYAB, A FORMER SLAVE FROM BAGHDAD, WHOSE MUSICAL ABILITIES BROUGHT HIM FAME THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICA, AND AL-ANDALUS: A LAND WHERE CHRISTIANS, JEWS, AND MUSLIMS CO-EXISTED FOR CENTURIES CREATING A UNIQUE AND DIVERSE SOCIETY. THE PLAY DESCRIBES THE HISTORY OF ZIRYAB, ISLAM IN MEDIEVAL EUROPE AND THE MIDDLE EAST, AND EL OUD – A MIDDLE EASTERN LUTE THAT EVENTUALLY BECAME THE GUITAR. THE STORY ALSO WEAVES PAST AND PRESENT INCLUDING ANECDOTES FROM RONNIE’S OWN LIFE GROWING UP AS A MUSICIAN AND MUSLIM PALESTINIAN-AMERICAN IN THE UNITED STATES.