An Unforgettable Night With Tabla for Two

By Cindy Hemper

This Monday evening, February 10^th at 8pm, Mercyhurst’s Walker Recital Hall will host a very enchanting evening filled with a wealth of Artists, Musicians, and music lovers from all over the City, and most especially, the captivating and mesmerizing sounds of Abigail Adams Greenway and Masood Omari’s “Tabla for Two”.

The Tabla is a membranophone percussion instrument, which is often used in Hindustani classical music, and was invented by the Poet Sufi, and Musician Amir Khusro. The Tabla is an instrument made up of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres. The term “tabla” is derived from an Arabic word, tabl, which simply means “drum.”

Used to make the music behind folk and sufi poetry, and has become a grand part of the Hindustani music industry, the Tabla is also used in some other Asian musical traditions outside of India, such as in the Indonesian dangdut genre.

The performance that “Tabla for Two” will offer to our Community is a chance of the most musically unique kind, to see what is an amazing musically artistic dialogue between Masood Omari and Abigail Adams Greenway that transcends the senses and permeates the soul.

Greenway first met Omari a few years back by chance in an Afghan shop in Georgetown where he was teaching the Tabla, an instrument he had been studying for twenty-two years. Having worked hard in the prominent Punjab lineage, Omari received his gurmani, or mastership in 2002, and is now sharing the Tabla experience and its history with Greenway.

With powerful and graceful performances, Omari has accompanied many of the most prominent classical Afghani and Pakistani singers on stages in Europe and America. In addition to the Tabla, Omari is also very gifted at playing the Dholak, the harmonium and he is a talented singer.

Reflecting her colorful avant-garde nature, Greenway’s art is imaginative and exceptionally expressive. Greenway celebrates life with original vision, and vitality through interior design, her dress and in her outlook in life. Her artwork has always included watercolor, photography, collage, conceptual art, dress design and interiors.

As a highly talented and renowned Artist herself, Greenway now shares her art through the beautiful and majestic sounds of the Tabla using exciting original compositions that blend classical Eastern beats with a Western style, giving life to a powerful fusion for the Tabla.

With undeniably fascinating and melodic soundscapes that are dripping with pure talent and creativity, Tabla for Two takes you by the hand on a cavalcade of expressionism, and auditory bliss of harmony and inspiration that is a genuine treasure, and a one of a kind experience of a lifetime.

Please join E R I  Jams Arts & Entertainment Magazine this Monday night at Mercyhurst’s Walker Recital Hall, and welcome Tabla for Two as they deliver what will surely be a truly unforgettable experience, and the most tremendous display of musical “Art” that one might ever hope to have the pleasure of taking part in.

The show has no admission cost and is free to the public. A separate master class for Mercyhurst music students will be held at 2pm on Tuesday, Feb. 11 in the Walker Hall. The public is welcome to attend and observe. For more information on Tabla for Two, please visit their website at TablaForTwo.com For details and more information about performance at Mercyhurst’s Walker Recital Hall, please call 814-824-2394.