Maya Youseff - 4 April 2024

Maya is Syrian and plays the qanoon a 78 string instrument somewhat like a flat harp or zither. It has 26 groups of 3 strings and through that design a unique sound and way of being played. She was accompianed by a piano player and a percussionist but most of the focus was on her extraordinary playing. The notes came thick and very fast, the whole effect was mesmeric and brilliant. Of course the scales were usually arabic sounding and that plus the often percussive feel of hitting three strings simultaneously added to the unusual feel of the overall sound. The piano player was excellent as was the percussionist who was subtly producing all sorts of sounds from what very simple round hand-held instruments. Shame that there was such a small audience for such a talented musician.