Faith in Fine Print

Nov 23 2022 33 mins

Meet Ali Keeler, one of the founders of Al Firdaus Ensemble, a Spain-based musical band which combines between classical, western, Moroccan, Andalusi, and Syrian styles in their music. Known for their Celtic Salawat and Madha Morisco, Nihal sat with Ali and spoke about spiritual expression through art and how to bring people together through art. They also spoke about their new album "Shifa" and the motivations behind its production. This episode will also feature some of their songs from the new album.

Ali Keeler was born in London in 1973 and started learning the violin at the age of seven. During his youth, he played in several orchestras. In 1991, he went on to study classical violin at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, where he gained experience playing in a string quartet. He moved to Damascus in Syria in 1998. During his time in Syria, he learnt to sing within the tradition of the maqam in the zawiyas of Damascus and Aleppo, receiving instruction in singing from the well-known munshid Ustadh Mustapha Karim. Applying his musical experience within the Arabic tradition to the violin, he has developed a varied repertoire of Celtic, Arabic, Andalusi and Turkish pieces. In 2006, he moved to Granada and in 2007 helped form the group Al Kauthar. He contributed within the group as the lead singer, violinist, arranger and composer, performing in concerts and festivals in Europe, Turkey and Morocco.

In 2012 he founded the group Al Firdaus Ensemble, with whom he has performed in numerous concerts throughout Europe, the US, North Africa, Turkey, & Lebanon.

Faith in Fine Print is brought to you by The Mantle, a sacred safe space dedicated to facilitating and demonstrating Islamic Spirituality.

EP 17 | Artistic Spirituality, Rediscovering al-Andalus, and the Real Rumi | Ali Keeler

Nov 23 2022 33 mins