Emil Khoury, classical music composer

Emil Khoury

Biography

Maestro Prof. Dr. Emil Khoury (song-writer, poet, performer, composer, arranger, conductor, music analyst, research scholar, and professor of both Western and Middle-Eastern musics) has various works recorded to his credit: the Great Love cantata for H.M. the late King Hussain (of Jordan); the Glory Maker cantata for H.M. King Abdullah II (of Jordan); Our Love Is So Bright pop-rock song for American singer, Kay Weaver; the soundtracks of the Dive in Aqaba touristic film; and many musicals for chamber orchestras, mixed ensembles, feature and documentary films, and TV, Radio, and Satellite stations.

Having earned his higher education and lived in the U.S.A. for so many years, Dr. Khoury has managed to work in two disparate musical worlds (Western and Middle-Eastern) with high verve, versatility, and vivacity. In addition to the Piano and Guitar, he is also a successful performer of 3 Middle-Eastern instruments: Oud, Organ, and Violin (tuned GDGD). Moreover, as part of his firm conviction in serving communities with music, poetry, and art, Prof. Khoury has always ensured active involvement in as many music festivals, social and cultural events, community gatherings, philanthropic activities, and humanitarian calls as he could possibly participate. Also, he gave a many enlightening and enriching lectures and seminars on different aspects of Middle-Eastern music (modes or maqamat, instruments, history, forms, rhythmic patterns, etc.). In this context, Khoury contends that "Music has an allied power to bring forth a societal ligature much as the rain has magnetic power to impartially attract and cluster diverse people under the tiara of a single umbrella." "Music," maintains Khoury, "can play a vitally peerless role in forging a bridge of communication and understanding between people from all walks of life, thereby not only fostering further tolerance and relatedness, but also escalating the levels of acceptance and peaceful coexistence in society."

Khoury's artistic repertoire includes a wide spectrum of works composed and arranged for sundry organics or complements of Western music, such as Silky Browser, Play Ground, Nostalgia, My Beautiful Lady, My Love, Soft Touch, Misty Love, Passion, Sweet Dream, Indifferent Man, Farewell My Love, Solitaire, Real Woman, Serenata Notturna, Desert Chi, Notice of Love, Romance, Sour Soul, Silent Love, Dance on the Moon, Love Is You, Don't Go Away, Blue Orchid (Azandem theme), Romantic Dream, the Tune of Love, Japan Perspective, and Love Dance, as well as a vast portfolio of English and Middle-Eastern songs and musical pieces. One of Khoury's songs (You've Been Gone For Too Long) has won the first contest prize at the Arab Song Festival in Washington, D.C. Also, a host of his musical works have been performed by Passione String Quartet, Duo Anova, West Winds Trio, Diego Vasquez (Clarinet) and Andrea Skurr (Dance), Thomas Piercy (Clarinet) and Vilian Ivantchev (Guitar), as well as Amman National Symphony Orchestra at a nationally royal ceremony before H.M. King Hussain and H.M. Queen Noor, both of who gracefully honored Mr. Khoury with their royal autographs. 

Prof. Khoury is the first pioneer of the Non-Dynamic Music concept (NDM) ®. His perspective is that "Composers should not be the only ones to dictate the dynamics and/or nuances." "Musicians," claims Khoury, "Should also have some say in how music should be performed, since, in the end, SOUND is what really matters the most. Since music is all about synergy and teamwork, performers should hence have some privilege to feel the music, interpret their relevant parts, envision the outcome, and apply their own inputs accordingly." Maestro Khoury is also a strong advocate of writing mini compositions. "As a concert patron," says Khoury, "I prefer enjoying the styles or moods of diversely short works, rather than spend the entire concert's time listening to the same piece from start to end." "Music" asserts Khoury, "Should be construed as a bouquet of assorted flowers, not as a bunch of a single rose genre."

Khoury's current activities include making the soundtracks of a Turkish TV drama series and the A Teacher's Memoirs short documentary film, being an active member with Vox Novus and Composer's Voice, being a member on the adjudication panel of the First Star TV talents show, conducting on-campus lectures on Middle-Eastern music and on-site seminars on composing and arranging music using an innovative and creative project titled Characters-Based Music®, and launching the Worldwide Artists Club website project ™.


Composer Title Date Action
Emil Khoury My Darling 02/08/2015 Play Add to playlist
Emil Khoury Play Ground 02/08/2015 Play Add to playlist
Emil Khoury My Love 02/08/2015 Play Add to playlist
Emil Khoury Ode to Azandem 02/08/2015 Play Add to playlist
Emil Khoury My Love (Ensemble) 02/08/2015 Play Add to playlist
Emil Khoury Blue Orchid - Azandem 02/16/2015 Play Add to playlist
Emil Khoury Serenata Notturna - Red Rose 02/16/2015 Play Add to playlist
Emil Khoury Mysterious Love 02/23/2015 Play Add to playlist
Emil Khoury Violina 02/26/2015 Play Add to playlist