The Nouruz Ensemble consists of four virtuosos of ancient instruments from the Near and Middle East. All four studied at the music academies of their home cities, in Baghdad and Tehran.

Today they live in Germany and work as freelance musicians. They do not play exclusively Oriental music. In Germany they have experimented widely and played with groups from a great variety of musical genres. They all also compose their own works, which express the experience of cultural contact. To found the Nouruz Ensemble, Bassem Hawar searched for a long time for musicians who share his approach to Oriental music.

Almost all of the finest virtuosos who still master and play these ancient instruments today live in exile. The musicians of the Nouruz Ensemble had to leave their countries, but they long ago stopped seeing exile only as a burden and now see it as an opportunity. They have experimented with instrument making and expanded the original possibilities of their instruments. Their compositions reflect a new view of their own culture as well as impressions and experiences from their new European home. Their situation is certainly not comparable to that of the artists at the court of the Caliph of Baghdad, but once again it is cultural contact that stimulates creativity, and once again the blending of different influences makes something new possible.

The core of the Nouruz Ensemble is the four Oriental musicians who also write the music. For each new program, guests from different cultural backgrounds who represent various musical styles are invited to join.

Bassem Hawar – Djoze

Kioomars Musayyebi – Santur

Rageed William – Nai

Reza Samani Percussion