Many Middle Eastern countries, from Syria to Egypt, have experienced regime changes, violent conflicts or both. These disruptions have had an enormous impact on daily life and culture, including the music scene. On this edition of Global Notes, Alison Cuddy and guests Issa Boulos, head of the Arab Music Department at the Qatar Music Academy, and Amir El Saffar, an Iraqi-American trumpeter, vocalist, santur player and composer who specializes in Iraqi maqam music, join Jerome McDonnell for a look at the state of music in the Middle East. (Photo: AP Images).
