Biography
Matar Muhammad (1939-1995) was an acclaimed buzuq player from Lebanon.
Matar's birthplace is object of discussion among some authors: Some of them assert that Matar was born in Bekaa plain, while others state that he was born in Alarida, a little village located in the syrian border, into a romani family.
At the age of 7, his parents and elder brother introduced him to buzuq, oriental chord instrument with a large handle, from the family of the lute.
Learning his technique from a familiar tradition, without any academic formation, Matar has proved his virtuosity interpreting as much the classic themes from the oriental music (Maqâm) as the lebanese singer Sabah.
Matar's playing-style is based in a complex mixture of oriental and ocidental techniques, with jazz, flamenco, traditional indian music influences, what allows him to expand buzuq playing possibilities, which was used, in the past, only to interpret folkloric and traditional songs.
Matar's fame reached its high level in the 70's, when he performed several concerts in the Beyrouth Theatre.
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