Sumer is the name of the prehistoric civilization which flourished by the rivers Tigris and Euphrates in ancient Mesopotamia (present-time Iraq) from time immemorial to circa 2500BC.  No one knows for certain where the Sumerians had originally come from, nor how they managed to build up such a stupendous civilization in that so remote past. Sumer's contribution to world civilization is unprecedented, and the Sumerians hold the patent for the very first achievements and inventions in the fields of industry, agriculture, irrigation, transportation, economy, trade, schools and education, constitution, documentation, librarianship, literature, art, music etc. Following is the refrain of the earliest love song in the whole history of mankind, which was composed and sung in Sumer more than 5000 years ago.

The Sumerian harp; a sophisticated eleven-string instrument excavated at the site of Sumer in the 1920's is a token of that gorgeous civilization and an invaluable souvenir from the eldest of civilization to the youngest one.

 

 As an orchestra, Sumer was established in Gothenburg, Sweden on the first of September 1996, with a purpose, a goal and a dream. The purpose is to introduce Arabic traditional and folk music to Scandinavia I particular, and the west in general. The goal is establish the first school for Arabic music in Sweden, and the dream is to make a tour of the Arab World, Europe and America performing Arabic music as it ought to sound.

 

 Sumer's repertoire consists primarily of Arabic traditional and folk music with emphasis on twentieth-century compositions. The songs are carefully hand-picked to span more than twenty Arab countries. Sumer embraces those very special and local singing genres such as muwashahat of Andalusia, Egyptian mawwal, Iraqi maqam, pasta, boudhiyya, ataba, swehli, and niel, mountain singing from Lebanon, Gulf, Nubian and Bedouin singing, malouf of Tunisia and North Africa, Egyptian adwar, qudoud of Aleppo, and much more!

 

 What makes Sumer special and unique, probably in the whole world, is that the lead singing is performed by Swedish and Norwegian girls. Not only that, but they perform all the Arab music styles regardless of the huge variety of styles throughout more than twenty Arab countries. Their performance is characterized by a high grade of precision and mastering of the tiniest linguistic and musical nuances and intricacies. After every gig, the Arabs among the audience usually come and talk to them in Arabic, which they cannot speak.

 

 Sumer has given out two CD's, so far. It has performed hundreds of concerts in Sweden and Europe. Two long TV programs have been made on the orchestra by the Swedish TV (STV) and the Norwegian TV (NRK). Tens of articles have been published on Sumer in the Swedish, European and Arabic press.

 

Talal Ismail (Iraq): leader, conductor, linguistic and musical supervisor, vocalist, oudist and percussionist

Ahmad Al-Jawadi (Iraq): violinist and music arranger

Hamoudi Sharba (Iraq): vocalist and percussionist

Anna Ottertun (Sweden): vocalist and percussionist

Marianne Holmboe (Norway): vocalist and percussionist

Anders Waernellius (Sweden): lead percussionist

Sara Lundgren (Sweden): cellist

Raysan Ismail (Iraq): violinist

Cecilie Myckeltvedt (Sweden): dancer

 

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Oh bridegroom, dear to my heart, 

Great is your beauty, sweet like honey!

Oh lion, dear to my heart,

Great is your beauty, sweet like honey!