Music in the Round presents Nay master, percussionist and composer Faris Ishaq, who charts unexplored territories with one of the oldest types of flute still in use today, the Nay. Rooted in his Palestinian heritage, Faris celebrates the instrument, which has Middle Eastern roots dating back to around 5000 BCE, and its cultural legacy, in his own compositions.
In ‘Jasad’ – Arabic for ‘body’ – he draws on the essence of the Nay to create a distinctive solo setup, playing the instrument alongside a leg-mounted frame drum and foot percussion, and weaves these sounds together to produce a multi-layered acoustic solo performance. With exceptional dexterity and expressive nuance, he blends intricate melodies with dynamic beats to evoke the feel of looped textures while being fully acoustic.
