Name: Incense of Music 69 – Echoes from Mesopotamia
Start: 2026-01-30T20:00:00+01:00
Location: PANDA platforma

$Incense of Music 69 \u2013 Echoes from Mesopotamia$

Mevan Younes – Buzuq
Elham Hamedi – Kamancheh
Fabio Dondero (Incense) – Myrrh, Lavender

Echoes from Mesopotamia – A Musical Dialogue
Prepare for a musical journey to the cradle of civilization, where the spirit of ancient Mesopotamia is channeled through the strings of two master musicians.
Mevan Younes on the buzuq and Elham Hamedi on the kamancheh engage in a profound dialogue, exploring the vast emotional landscape of Kurdish and Mesopotamian heritage.
The evening begins with the resonant, metallic pluck of the buzuq. Mevan Younes coaxes intricate, rhythmic patterns from its long neck, each note buzzing with a vibrant, earthy energy. His playing is both percussive and melodic, building complex architectures of sound that recall the sun-baked landscapes and resilient spirit of its people. The buzuq speaks in the language of fire, dance, and the unyielding passage of time.
Then, the voice of the kamancheh enters. Held upright and bowed with profound sensitivity by Elham Hamedi, its sound is the evening’s response to the buzuq’s day. It is a voice of poignant beauty and lyrical sorrow—a soaring, weeping melody that seems to touch the very soul. Elham coaxes microtones and delicate ornaments from its strings, navigating the intricate pathways of Kurdish maqams (modes) with breathtaking precision. The kamancheh speaks of longing, of history, and of the deep, flowing rivers of the region.
Together, they do not merely play in unison; they converse. They argue, they mourn, they celebrate. Through composed pieces and spirited improvisations, they explore the rich tapestry of their shared musical heritage. The buzuq lays down a rhythmic, harmonic foundation, over which the kamancheh paints stories in shades of joy and melancholy. Their interplay is a testament to the diversity and depth of this ancient tradition, at once fiercely rhythmic and heartbreakingly tender.

A Note on the Atmosphere
Enhancing this auditory journey, a subtle fragrance lingers in the air:
The sacred, resinous depth of myrrh echoes the buzuq’s ancient roots
The ethereal, herbal calm of lavender mirrors the kamancheh’s soulful cry
This scent is but a whisper, a ghost in the hall, designed to deepen the immersion into the soundscape without ever distracting from its power.
This is more than a concert; it is an invitation to witness a living tradition. A rare opportunity to experience the echoes from Mesopotamia not as relics from a museum, but as a vibrant, evolving conversation between two exceptional artists and their instruments.

Artist Biographies
Mevan Younes
Born in the multicultural city of Al Hassak in northern Syria, Mevan Younes specializes in the traditional oriental instrument, the buzuq. His musical education began at age seven under the guidance of his father, focusing initially on Kurdish music. He later continued his studies at the Damascus Higher Institute of Music, completing them under Professor Askar Ali Akbar in 2011, and began teaching buzuq professionally.
He is a member of the Syrian Arab National Orchestra and has performed at numerous festivals, including the Morgenland Festival Osnabrück and Roskilde Festival in Denmark. His international engagements have taken him to Turkey, Tunisia, Ghana, Kurdistan, France, and Germany. Since 2015, Mevan has been living in the Berlin area, actively performing with ensembles such as the Ugarit Trio and the Berlin Orient Ensemble.
🌐 www.mevanyounes.com
Elham Hamedi
A distinguished kamancheh player and composer, Elham Hamedi is known for her emotional expression and technical mastery of this ancient Persian spike fiddle. She began playing at a young age and later studied at the University of Tehran’s Faculty of Fine Arts, immersing herself in the Radif—the complex repertoire of Persian classical music.
Guided by master musicians, she developed deep expertise in the Persian Dastgāh and Kurdish Maqam systems. Her playing is more than technical—it is deeply expressive storytelling filled with longing, beauty, and joy.
Elham is an internationally active soloist and collaborator, performing across genres and traditions. As a composer, she expands the repertoire of the kamancheh, ensuring its continued relevance and innovation. She is one of the leading female voices of the instrument today, sharing the soul of her heritage with global audiences.
Incense Notes
Myrrh – The Sacred Resin
Sourced from thorny trees of the genus Commiphora, myrrh is a fragrant gum that oozes from bark to heal wounds. Once hardened into reddish-brown granules, it is burned to release a rich, earthy, bittersweet scent. Used in temple rituals and sacred rites, myrrh offers grounding and meditative qualities that purify the space and the mind.
Lavender – The Calming Bloom
Native to the Mediterranean, lavender’s slender stems and purple blossoms contain aromatic oils. When burned as incense, it gives off a light, floral, herbal aroma. Known for calming the senses, lavender relieves stress, encourages peace, and brings balance to a space—an ideal companion to the melancholic kamancheh.

Admission: 10 euro online / 15 euro doors
Not recommended to people sensitive to smoke.