Dena El Saffar
Encyclopedia
Dena El Saffar is a musician
who plays the violin
and jowza. She is of Iraq
i and American
heritage and is the older sister of Amir El Saffar.
Along with her brother she was exposed to Arabic music in the suburbs of Chicago
, where she grew up attending Iraqi gatherings with her family. She began learning the violin at the age of six. At age 17, completely engaged in classical music
, she accompanied her father to Baghdad
and became enchanted by the music of Iraq
and the Middle East
. In 1993, while obtaining a classical music degree from Indiana University
, she founded the group Salaam, a Middle Eastern music ensemble which has performed throughout the United States
. She has studied with Hamid Al-Saadi and Munis Sharifov and has performed with the Master Musicians of Jajouka and Youssou N'dour
. Dena, who plays the viola
, violin
, djoze and kemanche, has also performed with salsa
groups, bluegrass
, blues and rock bands. She is married to percussionist Tim Moore
, and is the mother of two: Jamil and Layla.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
who plays the violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
and jowza. She is of Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i and American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
heritage and is the older sister of Amir El Saffar.
Along with her brother she was exposed to Arabic music in the suburbs of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, where she grew up attending Iraqi gatherings with her family. She began learning the violin at the age of six. At age 17, completely engaged in classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, she accompanied her father to Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
and became enchanted by the music of Iraq
Music of Iraq
The music of Iraq or Iraqi music, encompasses the music of a number of ethnic groups and musical genres. Ethnically, it includes Arabic music, Assyrian music, Turcoman, Armenian, Roma and Kurdish music among others...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. In 1993, while obtaining a classical music degree from Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
, she founded the group Salaam, a Middle Eastern music ensemble which has performed throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. She has studied with Hamid Al-Saadi and Munis Sharifov and has performed with the Master Musicians of Jajouka and Youssou N'dour
Youssou N'Dour
Youssou N'Dour is a Senegalese singer, percussionist and occasional actor. In 2004, Rolling Stone described him as, in Senegal and much of Africa, "perhaps the most famous singer alive." He helped develop a style of popular music in Senegal, known in the Serer language as mbalax, a type of music...
. Dena, who plays the viola
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
, violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, djoze and kemanche, has also performed with salsa
Salsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
groups, bluegrass
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
, blues and rock bands. She is married to percussionist Tim Moore
Tim Moore
Tim Moore may refer to:* Tim Moore , American actor, vaudeville and television comedian* Tim Moore , British travel writer and humorist* Tim Moore , songwriter who released five solo albums on Elektra Records...
, and is the mother of two: Jamil and Layla.