Hisqil Qassab - Iraqi maqam khanabat حسقيل قصاب مقام خنبات

Hisqil Qassab was a highly regarded qari al-maqam (“maqam reader”) who performed al-maqam al-‘Iraqi (the Iraqi maqam) in both Iraq and Israel. Like other vocalists, he learned the tradition while listening to performances in Baghdadi coffee houses. And like most vocalists, Qassab also worked in a second profession; he was said to be a silversmith and jewelry maker.

This recording features extended improvisatory segments by renowned qanun performer Yusuf Za‘arur, one of the Jewish musicians who represented Iraq in the First International Congress of Arabic Music in Cairo, 1932 before he immigrated to Israel.

After immigrating to Israel in 1951, Qassab, like other musicians, had few opportunities to perform the traditional Iraqi repertoire. Fortunately, Israel Radio arranged for Qassab (and others) to recorded Iraqi maqam performances. Qassab recorded 27 different maqamat, some more than once, for a total of at least 47 recordings. Qassab was the preferred qari al-maqam of Ezra Aharon (Azuri), himself a renowned performer and important musical figure both in Iraq and Israel.

Qassab’s full-length performances, in contrast to shorter versions on ’78 discs, serve as examples for generations to come.

Learn more about Hisqil Qassab and read an analysis of this maqam rast performance in “The Urban Repertoire of Jewish Professional Musicians in Iraq and Israel: Instrumental Improvisation and Culture Change,” a Ph.D. dissertation at Academia.edu. http://bit.ly/1niES7r. Enter Qassab in the dissertation's search field.

Also read ‘Alam al-Maqam wa al-‘Azifun wa al-Mughannun al-Baghdadiyun: Hisqil Qassab” [Eminent Personalities of the Maqam and Baghdadi Instrumentalists and Singers: Hisqil Qassab]. Al-Anba’ 7.21.78