Your Cart is Empty
The Middle East, rich with its cultural and musical traditions, has seen a growing wave of women composers who are redefining the region’s musical narrative. These trailblazers preserve heritage, push boundaries, and tell deeply personal stories through their music. Here, we highlight five remarkable voices: Shireen Abu-Khader, Nahla Mattar, Suad Bushnaq, Agnessa Dzodtsoeva, andDidem Başar, each representing a unique fusion of tradition and innovation in contemporary composition.
Music has long been a tool for expression and survival, and for these composers, it is also a medium for resistance and renewal.
Shireen Abu-Khader, a Palestinian-Jordanian composer, is known for her dedication to preservingLevantine choral traditions and bringing them to new audiences. Through works such asIf My Voice Departs, she weaves together traditional Arabic melodies, contemporary harmonies, and poetic texts that explore themes of longing, resilience, and cultural identity. Her music creates a bridge betweenfolk traditions and contemporary choral music, ensuring that Arabic musical heritage remains vibrant and relevant. Through her work withDozan World, she has empowered countless singers to engage withmaqams (melodic modes) and iqa’at (rhythmic cycles), connecting vocalists worldwide with the rich choral traditions of the Arab world.
Nahla Mattar, an Egyptian composer, brings history to life throughrichly textured compositions that evoke Egypt’s past while embracing modern influences. Her workOde to Manial is a testament to this, reflecting the grandeur ofManial Palace and its deep connection to Egyptian heritage. With a background inacademic research and composition, Nahla’s music blends intricate counterpoint with the traditional maqamat (melodic scales) of Arabic music. Her pieces serve as a sonic preservation of Egypt’s musical identity, infused with narratives of resilience and pride.
Suad Bushnaq, a Jordanian-Canadian composer of Palestinian, Syrian, and Bosnian heritage, has carved a unique space in the world offilm and orchestral composition. As thesole composer forSecret World of Sound with David Attenborough, she has made history, demonstrating the power ofMiddle Eastern women in global film scoring. Her works, such asTomorrow (inspired by the resilience of Syrian refugees) andThe Borrowed Dress, evoke deep emotions, seamlessly blendingArabic musical elements with symphonic orchestration. Suad’s ability totell stories through music has earned her international recognition, making her one of the leading Arab women in film composition. Discover more about her work onher website and listen onSpotify.
Agnessa Dzodtsoeva, born in Tbilisi to an Ossetian father and Georgian mother, merges her diverse cultural influences with classical and contemporary composition. With a portfolio that includes Arabic Suite, Revival, Fantasia, and the ballets Sinbad and Ishtar, she blends Western classical structures with Arabic and Caucasian musical aesthetics. Agnessa’s compositions transport listeners across landscapes, from the delicate interplay of Middle Eastern maqams to the dynamic movements of full orchestral works. Her pieces, often rooted in historical and mythical themes, highlight the transformative power of storytelling through music. Explore her compositions at Dozan World., such like Fantasia and Dreams.
Didem Başar, a Turkish-Canadian composer and kanun (Turkish zither) player, draws inspiration fromTurkish classical music, integrating itsmodal and rhythmic intricacies into contemporary compositions. Her work, such asContinuum, showcases her ability to blend the delicate timbres of traditional instruments withWestern orchestral arrangements, creating soundscapes that reflect thefluid dialogue between East and West. Didem’s compositions often explore themes oftime, identity, and tradition, crafting pieces that highlight both thehistorical richness and adaptability of Turkish music. Her artistry extends beyond performance, as she actively works to bring thekanun into new musical settings, expanding its reach into chamber music and orchestral collaborations. Discover her music onher website and listen onSpotify,Apple Music, andYouTube.
These five women are just asmall representation of the incredible work being done by Middle Eastern composers today. Each of them, whether throughchoral arrangements, orchestral works, film scoring, historical preservation, or instrumental fusion, is redefining what it means to create music from the region.
To engage with their work is to step into a world ofresilience, cultural pride, and artistic evolution. Their compositions invite us tolisten deeply, to honor the histories they represent, and to celebrate the voices of women shaping the soundscape of the Middle East today.
Explore their works through these platforms:
•Shireen Abu-Khader and Dozan World
•Agnessa Dzodtsoeva’s Works on Dozan World
•Suad Bushnaq’s Website andSpotify
•Didem Başar’s Website,Spotify,Apple Music, andYouTube
These women’s stories remind us that music is not just an art form, it’s apowerful medium for change, connection, and resilience. Their voices, and those of the many other composers yet to be discovered, deserve to be heard and celebrated.