Oxford Maqam Tango Collective

Event information

Join us for an unforgettable afternoon of music, where boundaries blur and creativity flows. This isn’t just a concert; it’s a celebration of community and collaboration. Born from folk sessions, open mic nights, and bands in the Oxford music scene, the Oxford Maqam Tango Collective is a new endeavour which brings together longtime friends from a wealth of diverse musical traditions. Different styles; same heartbeat.

The first half of this afternoon's concert will feature performances from the various ensembles which comprise the Collective, showcasing their particular musical backgrounds. In the second half, the musicians will join forces to play a set of Egyptian tangos.

The Egyptian tango
In the golden age of Egyptian cinema—those luminous decades of the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s—a curious and captivating musical phenomenon swayed into the spotlight: the Egyptian tango.

Imported from the dance halls of Argentina and re-imagined through the lens of Arabic melody and emotion, tango in Egyptian cinema quickly became more than a borrowed rhythm. It was a transformation. Slowed down, minor-keyed, and steeped in yearning, the Egyptian tango became a haunting, hybrid sound, where the drama of tango met the heartbreak of Egyptian folklore. Whether about lost love or a bittersweet serenade of longing, these songs added an air of cosmopolitan flair to Egyptian film, while still rooted deeply in Arab musical tradition.

Today, these songs are time capsules: cinematic dances of nostalgia, elegance, and cultural fusion. The Egyptian tango didn’t just make people dance, it made them feel.

The musicians
Tarik Beshir (oud and voice)
Yara Salahiddeen (voice)
Martin Stokes (qanun)
Giles Lewin (violin)
Jane Griffiths (violin)
Louisa Lyne (cello)
Melissa Holding (accordion)
William South (piano)
Colin Fletcher (double bass and guitar)

Bar. Tickets: £15 in advance; £18 on the door.