SOUND SPACES concert series: From Oud to Lute – The Journey of the Strings
Press release from 06/16/2026
The journey of the strings from Baghdad via Andalusia to Berlin, retold in music by the ensembles AMI Berlin and Tres Morillas: Sunday, 28 June 2026, 2 pm, Museum of Musical Instruments, State Institute for Music Research, Ben-Gurion-Straße 1, 10785 Berlin
Much like a melting pot, the Iberian Peninsula in the Middle Ages and the early Renaissance was a meeting place for many cultures: Arab influences came into contact with Jewish and Christian ones, alongside Basque, Visigothic and Celtic traditions. The ensembles AMI Berlin and Tres Morillas bring these musical worlds together and present a repertoire from that turbulent era. The programme features works from Spanish manuscripts of the Middle Ages and the early Renaissance, as well as historical Arabic songs. The programme includes Arabic muwashshah, Sephardic romances, al-musiqa al-andalusiyya in the Tunisian tradition, and works by Safi al-Din al-Urmawi (1216–1294), Diego Pisador (1509–1557), Luys de Narváez (1500–1549) and Miguel de Fuenllana (1525–1591).
AMI Berlin Ensemble & Tres Morillas
Chiraz Ajmi – Arabic vocals
June Telletxea – Spanish vocals & percussion
Valentina Bellanova – ney, Renaissance flutes
Julia Kursawe – vihuela de arco
Nabil Arbaain – historical oud
Max Hattwich – historical oud, Renaissance lute
2 pm: Flash Talk with a brief introduction to the topic. 2.30 pm to 3.30 pm: Concert. From 3.30 pm: Meet the artists at the SIM Café.
Ticket bookings: +49 (0)30 254 81-178 or kasse@mimpk.de. Further information: www.simpk.de.