Nassim Maalouf
Encyclopedia
Nassim Maalouf
(Arabic: نسيم معلوف) (b. Kafarakab
, Lebanon
, 1941) is a classical trumpet
soloist particularly known for his adaptation of the trumpet to Arabic music.
Maalouf
studied at the Conservatoire de Paris
with the great French trumpeter Maurice André
, graduating in 1970.
While he had by that time mastered the European classical trumpet repertoire he had for some time felt restricted by being able to play only in the major and minor scales. Although he wished to interpret the numerous Arabic modes (known as maqamat
, singular maqam) on his instrument, he nevertheless found this quite difficult, as the necessary "half-sharps" and "half-flats" could only be obtained via the unreliable method of modulating lip pressure.
Finally, Maalouf realized that adding to his trumpet a fourth valve half the length of the second valve would allow for the production of quarter tone
s. Maalouf worked for two years with the craftsman Michel Wikrikaz of the Henri Selmer
company in Paris
to produce his design of a "quarter-tone" trumpet and flugelhorn
, both suitable for performing Arabic maqamat
throughout the full chromatic range of the instrument.
Maalouf uses his right hand to play the first three valves and the index finger of his left hand to depress the fourth valve. Maalouf's quarter-tone trumpet was not the first such instrument, however; the American jazz trumpeter Don Ellis
and others had earlier created similar instruments.
In addition to his career as trumpet soloist, Maalouf has also taught at the National Conservatory in Beirut
. Maalouf's son, Ibrahim Maalouf
(b. 1980), is also a classically trained trumpeter and plays the quarter-tone trumpet.
Maalouf has released a solo CD, Improvisations Orientales (1994), on the Club Du Disque Arabe label.
Maalouf
Maalouf is the surname of one family that encompasses over 250,000 sons and daughters who share one single ancestor and a detailed family tree for nearly five centuries.-Origins:The Maalouf family belongs to the group of tribes known as Ghassanids that emigrated from Yemen to Houran...
(Arabic: نسيم معلوف) (b. Kafarakab
Kafarakab
Kafarakab is the francophone spelling of the name of a scenic village in the mountains of Lebanon. In Arabic, it means the home of the hawk...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, 1941) is a classical trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
soloist particularly known for his adaptation of the trumpet to Arabic music.
Maalouf
Maalouf
Maalouf is the surname of one family that encompasses over 250,000 sons and daughters who share one single ancestor and a detailed family tree for nearly five centuries.-Origins:The Maalouf family belongs to the group of tribes known as Ghassanids that emigrated from Yemen to Houran...
studied at the Conservatoire de Paris
Conservatoire de Paris
The Conservatoire de Paris is a college of music and dance founded in 1795, now situated in the avenue Jean Jaurès in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France...
with the great French trumpeter Maurice André
Maurice André
Maurice André is a French trumpeter, active in the classical music field.-Biography:He is a classical virtuoso trumpeter, born in Alès, France in the Cévennes into a mining family. His father was an amateur musician....
, graduating in 1970.
While he had by that time mastered the European classical trumpet repertoire he had for some time felt restricted by being able to play only in the major and minor scales. Although he wished to interpret the numerous Arabic modes (known as maqamat
Maqamat
Maquamat may have the following meanings.*Plural for Magam*Plural for Maqama*Maqamat Badi' az-Zaman al-Hamadhani, Arabic collection of stories*Maqamat al-Hariri, Arabic collection of stories...
, singular maqam) on his instrument, he nevertheless found this quite difficult, as the necessary "half-sharps" and "half-flats" could only be obtained via the unreliable method of modulating lip pressure.
Finally, Maalouf realized that adding to his trumpet a fourth valve half the length of the second valve would allow for the production of quarter tone
Quarter tone
A quarter tone , is a pitch halfway between the usual notes of a chromatic scale, an interval about half as wide as a semitone, which is half a whole tone....
s. Maalouf worked for two years with the craftsman Michel Wikrikaz of the Henri Selmer
The Selmer Company
Henri Selmer Paris company is a French family-owned enterprise, manufacturer of musical instruments based in Paris, France in 1885. It is known for its high-quality woodwind and brass instruments, especially saxophones, clarinets and trumpets...
company in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to produce his design of a "quarter-tone" trumpet and flugelhorn
Flugelhorn
The flugelhorn is a brass instrument resembling a trumpet but with a wider, conical bore. Some consider it to be a member of the saxhorn family developed by Adolphe Sax ; however, other historians assert that it derives from the valve bugle designed by Michael Saurle , Munich 1832 , thus...
, both suitable for performing Arabic maqamat
Arabic maqam
Arabic maqām is the system of melodic modes used in traditional Arabic music, which is mainly melodic. The word maqam in Arabic means place, location or rank. The Arabic maqam is a melody type...
throughout the full chromatic range of the instrument.
Maalouf uses his right hand to play the first three valves and the index finger of his left hand to depress the fourth valve. Maalouf's quarter-tone trumpet was not the first such instrument, however; the American jazz trumpeter Don Ellis
Don Ellis
Don Ellis was an American jazz trumpeter, drummer, composer and bandleader. He is best known for his extensive musical experimentation, particularly in the area of unusual time signatures...
and others had earlier created similar instruments.
In addition to his career as trumpet soloist, Maalouf has also taught at the National Conservatory in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
. Maalouf's son, Ibrahim Maalouf
Ibrahim Maalouf
Ibrahim Maalouf is a trumpeter, composer, arranger, and trumpet instructor. He was born in Beirut and now lives in France.-Biography:...
(b. 1980), is also a classically trained trumpeter and plays the quarter-tone trumpet.
Maalouf has released a solo CD, Improvisations Orientales (1994), on the Club Du Disque Arabe label.