Ayman Hlal
violin, voice | Syria/Germany
Artist profile https://makingtracksmusic.org/artists/ayman-hlal
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ayman_hlal_vio
“I feel rooted in Arabic musical traditions but have also absorbed the influences of Berlin’s diverse and vibrant musical cultures. My aim is to be constantly evolving!” — Ayman Hlal
Ayman’s story
As a rising star in his homeland, Syria, war resulted in his search for refuge in Berlin. In Berlin, Ayman started several musical projects that blended different traditions, including oriental, flamenco, and jazz. These collaborations resulted in two albums: Felah Mengu with the group Azuleo and the self-titled album Tawabil Project. He has performed at national and international events, working with orchestras like the Syrian Expat Philharmonic Orchestra and Austria's Nai’ Oriental Orchestra.
His journey reflects the power of music to connect diverse cultures and traditions, even in times of hardship.
Violin - a bit about history
Ayman’s musical style, shaped by his roots in Syria, reflects a rich cultural heritage. The instrument he plays—the violin—has a long history that began in 16th century northern Italy, where forests of maple and spruce provided the perfect materials for building string instruments.
The city of Brescia, located near the Alps, was the first to develop a tradition of violin-making. However, it was Cremona that became famous for master violin-makers like Antonio Stradivari, Giuseppe Guarneri, and the Amati family. By the late 1500s, the basic shape and size of the violin were established, but over the years, it has been modified depending on how it was used in society. Despite these changes, the violin has always been a versatile and accessible instrument.
The violin's ancestors go back to the 9th century, starting with a pear-shaped instrument called the lira, which was played upright with a bow. Later, the rabab, a two-stringed fiddle from the Arab world, came to Europe in the 11th century. In Spain, a three-stringed instrument called the rebec appeared between the 11th and 13th centuries. Over time, these early instruments evolved into the violin we know today, moving from being held upright to being supported under the chin or on the chest.
During the 17th century, the violin became an integral part of the orchestra and the instrumental representative of the ensemble with its player carrying the title 'concertmaster'. Concertos and sonatas were two leading genres through which the violin endured various structural modifications, slowly emerging to be recognised as one of the most admired instruments in the concert hall.
Anatomy of the instrument
The violin is a stringed instrument that you play with a bow. It has four strings that are attached to tuning pegs at the top and a tailpiece at the bottom. The strings pass over a bridge, which stays in place because of the pressure from the strings. When you play the violin, the strings vibrate, and those vibrations are carried through the bridge to the violin’s body, which amplifies the sound.
Inside the violin is a thin, wooden stick called the sound post, which helps carry the vibrations to the back of the instrument. The violin’s body is usually made of maple and pine, with the front (called the belly or soundboard) made of pine to help project the sound.
The strings are tuned in 'perfect fifths' (which means the notes are evenly spaced apart), and the two F-shaped holes on the front of the violin were added by a famous violin-maker named Amati in the 1560s. These helped improve the instrument’s sound while he was making violins for Queen Catherine de Médici’s court in France.
In the 1820s, the invention of the chin rest made it easier to play, allowing for new techniques. In the 19th century, changes were made to the neck and fingerboard to expand the violin’s range, making it a favorite instrument for virtuoso musicians and composers.
On the musical tradition of Syria and violin’s Arabic instrumental companions
Toward the end of the 19th century, the violin was incorporated into the Arabic ensemble and slowly replaced indigenous varieties of fiddles (kamanja, rababa, jowza), becoming an integral part of Arabic musicianship with qanun and oud. Although a very obvious example of one of the most Arabized instruments, the violin has been naturalised and developed its tuning in fourths and fifths (G3, D4, G4, D5) and ornamentation style. Through its ornate playing style, wide vibrato, slides, and trills, using an open string as a drone, it can produce all shades of intonation of the Arabic maqam system of scales.
Interesting facts
the oldest Western-made violin is over 400 years old
the provenance of the word 'violin' originates from the Latin vitula translated into “calf” or “cow” referring to the fact that the strings of the instrument were created of dried animal guts
the violin is usually made with up to 81 different pieces of wood
in every bow, you could find 150-200 strands of rosin-covered horsehair
If you like this, you might also like:
On artistic activism:
https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2017/5/27/a-syrian-violinists-journey-from-brutality-to-hope
https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/feature/2022/04/25/playlist-the-music-of-syrian-exile
Environmentalism and Violin-making:
Preserving the Musical Traditions of Syria:
https://sideofculture.com/2023/05/preserving-the-musical-traditions-of-syria/
https://worldmusiccentral.org/world-music-resources/musician-biographies/syrian-music/
Artists to check out:
Takht al Nagham: Classical Music of Syria: https://youtu.be/IZ4lvEtk0Yo?si=y9_jngdWuUneheS
Layth Sidiq on Violin and Arabic Music: https://youtu.be/D2lG8vbUogg?si=t8OjudnmdC1O984F
Mariela Shaker: https://youtu.be/IXN_5WFJHhk?si=wiDB2UsGaUmRs5Nx
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