Al Firdaus Ensemble Retreat

Seven maqāms, five days, one voice.

Across five days, your voice will move through the seven main maqāms, each one a different colour of feeling; from the joy of Ajam to the yearning of Hijaz and the deep devotion of Raml Maya. You'll spend dedicated sessions on the Qasīda al-Burda, the iconic 13th-century poem in praise of the Prophet ﷺ by Imām al-Būṣīrī, with particular focus on its Moroccan rendition, and explore the adhān itself; learning how melody and devotion intertwine in this sacred art.

Percussion runs alongside the vocal work throughout, building from foundational rhythms into intricate phrasing by the final days. Evenings bring the ensemble to life: the story of the ney, a performance tracing Ziryab's journey from Baghdad to Córdoba, and on Friday an excursion into the mountains among the last Muslim strongholds of Granada, followed by a flamenco workshop and fusion session.

Every day is held together by the five prayers and shared meals that turn strangers into companions. By the final evening, everything comes together in a group performance before a closing circle sends you home carrying something you didn't have before.

The Al Firdaus Ensemble

Founded in Granada in 2012 by English violinist and singer Ali Keeler, the ensemble brings together musicians from Spain, Morocco, England, France and Venezuela, united by a shared devotion to sacred sound. Their work blends Western classical, Celtic, flamenco and Andalusian traditions, drawing on the poetry of Ibn Arabi and Al-Shushtari and on rare 16th-century Morisco texts in Aljamiado, silenced for centuries after the expulsion of 1609.