Classical Riqq Technique
Classical Arabic percussionist Michel Merhej Baklouk was born in Jerusalem in 1928 and is one of the last in a generation representing the old school of Arabic music. Beginning in Jerusalem during the early radio years, developing in pre-war Lebanon and continuing today in America, Michel’s nearly sixty-year career and aesthetic sensibilities represent a musical era that is slowly slipping into the past. He was born during a time of change and artistic vibrancy in the world of music; the mid-twentieth century was a defining period in Arab music history, when old was being made new through the musical meeting of East and West. Most of the music we see today can be attributed to the changes that were taking place during this time. As a product of this time, Michel has had extensive experience in both traditional and modern contexts. However, his commitment is to the musical elements that create the aesthetic associated with classical percussion. His specialty, the riqq, is one of the most delicate,sophisticated, and versatile percussion instruments of Arabic music and has typically been the instrument of choice for accompanying the takht, a small classical ensemble. Although it has also been an integral part of many folk, pop and dance music ensembles, it is the classical tradition that showcases its best qualities. As Michel has said about the importance of the riqq, “There may be ten violins but only one tambourine, and everyone is depending on you.” Today, the riqq is often only a small part of a larger percussion section. In large pop groups, or groups that make   extensive use of synthesizers, the sound of the riqq is often electronically produced. In these cases, the depth of a classical riqq player’s sensitivity and the range of the instrument’s musical expression have little value. Nevertheless, the classical aesthetic invoked by a master riqq player is still an integral part of classical music performance, and Michel is still one of the players most sought after by instrumentalists, vocalists and connoisseurs of old-school Arabic music. Michel is truly a master artist and music craftsman; but to those of us who have had the good fortune to see him perform and work under his tutelage, he is much more. Michel Merhej Baklouk is a finely polished and extremely rare gem, a treasure to be cherished, and above all, a musician to be respected.