Sami Yusuf’s composition ‘Veritas’ premiered at the Holland Festival in Amsterdam as part of his concert series When Paths Meet. From the minimal and ethereal sound of the intro, it subtly transitions to a sense of awe at the astonishing majesty and multiplicity of creation. The Persian-influenced musical phrasing of Sami Yusuf’s vocalisations in the intro are inspired by the Daramad of Avaz-e dashti, a subgroup of the Shur dastgah, a Persian modal system evocative of a meditative state. Cappella Amsterdam sings quarter tones here and they do so brilliantly. The flamenco and Andalusian sounds of the Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra interplay with Western classical elements and the vibrant Arabic maqam Bayati. When the mode shifts to the passionate yearning of maqam Nahawand, its similarity to the Western classical minor scale brings an effortless resonance between the two. The outro joins Bayati and a harmonic minor scale in a multi-faceted, fiery expression of multiple, even contradictory states of being, while the vocalists insist, ‘Veritas’, ‘Veritas’ – Truth, Truth – and cast our focus beneath the turbulent surface storms to the calm depths below.

‘Karitas’ is a spellbinding composition by acclaimed British musician Sami Yusuf. It was recorded live at the Holland Festival in June 2022 and delivered with exceptional artistry by Cappella Amsterdam, the Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra and the composer’s own ensemble. The work moves with intelligence and fluidity from Western choral music to Middle Eastern modes to the cadence of Andalusia. Modes traverse boundaries from the distinctive Bayati Shiraz and Rast maqams to the aeolian. Subtly flowing rhythms & improvisation, entrancing solos on the Chinese erhu, oud, ney, violin, underscore the depth of the dialogue among traditions taking place here. Lyrics by Fuzuli, a 16th-c. Azerbaijani writer known as a poet of divine love, are echoed here in the words of the 12th-c. German mystic Hildegard of Bingen. Intoxicatingly beautiful mawwals take verses from the Andalusian poet Abul Hasan al-Shushtari (13th c.) and Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulsi, a 17th-c. Syrian writer.

Recorded live at the Holland Festival, Sami Yusuf’s ‘Pearl’ tells a tale of the pain of separation and the longing for union. The musician gives a rare intimate performance in this stripped-down arrangement with minimal acoustic accompaniment and sparse backing vocals by members of Cappella Amsterdam. From the ONE: When Paths Meet concert in Amsterdam.

The Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra gives a beautiful rendition of the beloved Moroccan/Andalusian song ‘Hijaz Kabeer’. This composition, arranged by Ahmed El Maai and enriched with musical intricacies, is exquisitely presented by the acclaimed musicians complementing the distinctive vocals of the soloists. The seamless integration of the voices of Cappella Amsterdam with the original Arabic poem produces a captivating sound that is both serene and grounding. The piece has a rich history as it is rooted in the musical tradition of the Andalusian nubah, a modal system featuring a mix of instrumental compositions and predominantly vocal pieces accompanied by instrumentation.

Acclaimed British composer Sami Yusuf brings the immensely popular Moroccan folk song ‘Fiyyashiyya’ to a European audience in his stunning arrangement performed live at the Holland Festival. An achingly eloquent solo improvisation on the Chinese erhu by the world-renowned master Guo Gan opens the piece, which then moves into a joyful call and response between Sami Yusuf and the vocalists of Cappella Amsterdam. As the rhythm builds, the Arabic lyrics sung by the Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra are answered in English by Cappella Amsterdam. This innovative rendition captures the exuberant essence of the North African folk sound just as it clearly captured the hearts of the audience who are heard clapping and singing along. Written by the Moroccan poet Sidi Othman ibn Yahya Cherki (known as “Sidi Bahloul Cherki”) in the 17th century.

Sami Yusuf’s composition ‘The Fire Within’ evokes the flame of love that burns in the hearts of seekers everywhere. This rich musical tapestry weaves together mystical strands of music and poetry as it moves seamlessly from the aeolian sound of European choral music to Andalusian modes to Middle Eastern scales. Here we hear the voice of each tradition clearly articulated as in an intricate conversation with one another. Layer upon layer of melodies and rhythms serve to clarify the composer’s vision and to lead the listener inward to a place of knowing beyond words. Lyrics are drawn from mystical poets: Kaygusuz Abdal (Turkish lyrics), Hildegard von Bingen (Latin lyrics), Mansur ibn al-Hallaj and Abu al-Hasan al-Shushtari (Arabic lyrics). Performed by Cappella Amsterdam, The Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra, and Sami Yusuf’s ensemble.

For When Paths Meet, Sami Yusuf’s concert series that premiered at Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw as part of the Holland Festival, Sami Yusuf, Cappella Amsterdam, and the Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra perform a new arrangement of ‘I Only Knew Love’. With minimal accompaniment, the traditional Andalusian melody moves from the vocalist to individual instruments to the chorus. The verse is carried beautifully by the rich voice of Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra’s Salah Mesbah. The lyrics are from a famous poem by the 8th-century Sufi saint from Iraq, Rabi‘ah al-‘Adawiyyah, and this version features the original Arabic as well as an English translation.

Sami Yusuf’s instrumental composition ‘The Meeting’ is a deeply moving and intimate work. Direct and non-linear, the melodies and rhythms sustain and support one another flawlessly as the music moves fluidly between Western and Middle Eastern modal systems. Solos by Huseyin Can Pala on baglama, Eyüpcan Açikpazu on ney, Onur Cicin on qanun, and Hasan Hekimoglu on oud circle each other to create an embracing ambience where each melodic line is a subtle gem, strong and fragile in equal measure.

Experience the beauty and unity of diverse musical traditions with Sami Yusuf's piece, 'ONE.' Recorded live at the Holland Festival in June 2022, this piece showcases exceptional artistry from Cappella Amsterdam, the Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra, and Sami Yusuf's own ensemble. Composed and arranged by Sami Yusuf, 'ONE' is a stunning blend of Western European vocal performance and the dynamic rhythms of Andalusian, North African, and Middle Eastern instruments including the ney, violin, qanun, santur, and percussions. The German words by Meister Eckhart and Arabic poetry by Abu al-Hasan al-Shushtari speak of the Eternal ‘I’ and the unity of vision, emphasising the separate beauty of each path and their underlying unity. Performed in E flat with allusions to maqam Nahawand, 'ONE' opens with Cappella Amsterdam's hauntingly beautiful vocals, transitioning to the richly textured and dynamic rhythms of Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra, culminating in a mesmerising santur and percussion performance by Sami Yusuf’s ensemble. 'ONE' invites you to experience the oneness of the human spirit in art.