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Artist
Samer Rashed
3+ albums
Palestiniancomposerviolapalestine
about
Samer Rashed is a Palestinian composer and viola player from Jerusalem. He graduated from the National Conservatory of Music in Jerusalem and began a challenging journey to pursue his passion in music composition, particularly for the viola. This journey led him to Istanbul, where he studied with world-renowned musicians and violinists, and was influenced by Turkish gypsy and jazz music. In 2016, Samer launched his first album, Gypsy Rhapsodies, in Jerusalem, which contained five of his music compositions and two covers in gypsy swing/jazz music. With this album, Samer became the first Palestinian musician to compose a music album of this genre for the viola, which was distinguished by its upbeat rhythm and harmony, showcasing the beauty of simple yet sophisticated melodies that bring joy to listeners – a key trait of gypsy swing music. The album launch was followed by a number of successful concerts in Ramallah, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Haifa, and the Golan Heights, asserting on one hand the audience demand for unique genres that incorporate Arabic music and, on the other hand, setting a great example for young Palestinian musicians through showing them what can be accomplished with minimal resources and maximum ambition. The success of his first album led Samer to launch his second album in 2019, Tales of the Gypsy Jazz, which includes seven of his compositions in gypsy jazz music and incorporates unique instruments such as the buzuq and the accordion. This album reflects Sam
