Raḥ Nibqa Sawa – رح نبقى سوا – Ziad Rahbani – Middle East Music Ensemble
The Middle East Music Ensemble is an 85-piece orchestra at the University of Chicago, directed by Wanees Zarour. Sham Abyad: Soloist.
Raḥ Nibqa Sawa by Ziad Rahbani.
Based on the arrangement in the original recording. The piece was transcribed, partially rearranged and conducted by Wanees Zarour.
From the concert “Salute To Ziad El Rahbani” – December 2025
Featuring Special Guests Firas Zreik (Qanun) and Andrew Lawrence (Piano)
Graphics by Mariam Krisht Video by Mike Grittani Recording by Chris Wills
Musicians:
Middle Eastern Instruments:
Yasmeen Abushawish – oud
Salahaldin Ajjur – qanun
Negin Almassi – kamanche
Mark Gavoor * – oud
Lama Kabir – qanun
Ronnie Malley * – oud
Fayang Pan – nay
Jalal Rais Dana – santour
Eli Suzukovich III – oud
Diana Wang – oud
Strings:
Violin:
Rasa Mahmoudian (Concertmaster)
Michael Azar
Alexandra C
Jad Khater
Christopher Maatouk
Maria Pino
Daryoosh Shenassa*
Viola:
Daniel Andres Diaz
Sarah Estilo
Sara Ramaiah
Cello:
Maureen Dunne
Lara Adnan Nammari
Ian Resnick
Mi Row
Matthew Salfity
Winds and Brass:
Flute:
Zain Al-Khalil
(Flute & Piccolo)
Lara Balıkçı
Elizabeth Diaz
Mary Snyder
Oboe:
Leo Mehring-Keller
Clarinet:
Alper Başar
Emily Coppess*
Dalia Fuleihan
Abdo Timejardine-Zomeño
Saxophone:
Hakan Başar (Alto)
Taraz Tofighi (Tenor)
Yasmin Zacaria Mikhaiel (Baritone)
Brass:
Mislav Forrester Knežević (Trumpet)
Julia Hajj (French Horn)
Percussion:
Shayan Azmoodeh
Edward Hanna
Tamara Hijazi
Barbara Kapp
Kai Movagh
JJ Robeck (xylophone, vibes)
C Mikhail (Bass)
Karl El Sokhn (guitar, drums)
Choir:
Isra Abbas
Sarah Abdelhadi
Sham Abyad
Roya Ahmadi-Moghadam
Yasmin Sheikh Amin
Kasia Baranek
Jagoda Borkiewicz
Phaedra Darwish
Raya Dawoud
Sarah Dwyer
Iba Ello
Osama El Quqa
Ariela El Sokhn
Karl El Sokhn (soloist)
Duha Enaya
Dina Ghanem
Gloria Guaderrama
Khaled Hasiba
Naji Hattar
Tamara Hijazi
Sarah Ibrahim
Rami Jabakhanji
Mariam Krisht
Aurora Martinez del Rio
C Mikhail
Nima Rafiei
Georgeio Sader
Mitali Shah
Leon Shernoff
Salma Tahrani
Elias Tannira
#ziadrahbani #fairouz #زياد_الرحباني #فيروز
Playing drums on the iconic track Rah Nibqa Sawa with the Middle Eastern Music Ensemble.