The Modal Mosaic: Exploring Connections Across Musical Cultures

See music through new eyes at the 2025-2026 A New Lens concert series!

This concert is a great chance to hear many musical traditions in one place! Modal music - music that focuses on scales and rhythms instead of chords and harmony - is often associated with Middle Eastern music. While it is common in the Middle East, modal music is actually a part of a wide range of traditions. The program will include modal - inspired music from a variety of cultures, including:

• Celtic dances and airs
• Medieval European music
• Scandinavian music
• Bartok's Romanian folk dances
• Modern music drawing from Greek, Turkish, Arab, and Persian traditions

Come listen to the similarities for yourself, and enjoy the reminder that we’re less different from one another than we sometimes think.

Performers:

Ellery Klein, fiddle
Karl Orvik, violin
James Perretta, Viola da Gamba
Tev Stevig, various plucked strings (lavta, laouto, tanbur, etc.), bowed strings (yaylı tanbur, rebab), bendir (frame drum)

A New Lens concerts are free to attend, and all are welcome. A $20 suggested donation supports the series and performers.