Global Notes: A Political Dissident And Oud Virtuoso

By Julian Hayda
Iraqi American composer and musician Rahim AlHaj, center, rehearses in Dearborn, Mich., Thursday, March 23, 2017. He composed a series of pieces based on the letters of eight Iraqis sharing personal tales during wartime.
Iraqi American composer and musician Rahim AlHaj, center, rehearses in Dearborn, Mich., Thursday, March 23, 2017. He composed a series of pieces based on the letters of eight Iraqis sharing personal tales during wartime. Jeff Karoub / AP Photo
Iraqi American composer and musician Rahim AlHaj, center, rehearses in Dearborn, Mich., Thursday, March 23, 2017. He composed a series of pieces based on the letters of eight Iraqis sharing personal tales during wartime.
Iraqi American composer and musician Rahim AlHaj, center, rehearses in Dearborn, Mich., Thursday, March 23, 2017. He composed a series of pieces based on the letters of eight Iraqis sharing personal tales during wartime. Jeff Karoub / AP Photo

Global Notes: A Political Dissident And Oud Virtuoso

By Julian Hayda
WBEZ brings you fact-based news and information. Sign up for our newsletters to stay up to date on the stories that matter.

Renowned Iraqi American oud virtuoso Rahim AlHaj’s Letters from Iraq project is inspired by eight letters mailed from wartime Iraq. The collaboration uses an ensemble of Iraqi and European string and percussion instruments to musically interpret the eight lived-experiences revealed in these letters. Rahim and his ensemble will be in Chicago this Sunday to perform at the University of Chicago’s Logan Center. If you can’t make it, tune in to this edition of Global Notes with Worldview music contributor and host/producer of Vocalo’s Beat Latino Catalina Maria Johnson to hear AlHaj chat about his music and experiences as a dissident during Saddam Hussein’s regime.