“The technique in the Al Ayala chant imitates military life. It starts slowly with the key players standing in a semi-circle with the Thakmira, Al Raas and Al Tar drums. It then gradually picks up ...

Roger Kashou’s fingers flew across the stretched plastic skin of a goblet-shaped drum resting on his lap. They coaxed a bright, melodic series of “tek tek tek” sounds from the sweet spot along the rim ...