Qatar Foundation Hosts Arab-Iberian Music Conference
A three-day conference in Madrid explored centuries of shared musical heritage between the Arab world and the Iberian Peninsula.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Medieval and Renaissance
Qatar Foundation organized the second Conference of the Chair of Arab Studies in Madrid, Spain, in partnership with the Reina Sofía School of Music. The three-day event opened with a concert by the Doha Ensemble for Classical Maqam.
Why it matters
The conference examines musical exchange between the Arab world and Iberia, tracing links from historical sources to contemporary creation. It places Qatar's cultural institutions in dialogue with European academic and performance traditions.
The conference spanned three days and explored three centuries of musical heritage tied to Segah, drawing on manuscript research and early sound recordings. No attendance or outcome metrics were reported in the source material.
The players
Qatar Foundation
Qatar Foundation is a Doha-based nonprofit organization that runs education, research, and cultural programs in Qatar and abroad.
Reina Sofía School of Music
The Reina Sofía School of Music is a Madrid institution that partnered with Qatar Foundation to host the conference.
The details
Academic presentations covered medieval Iberian repertoires, al-Andalus and the Cantigas de Santa María, and maritime connections between the Arab world and the Iberian Peninsula. Teachers from Qatar Music Academy, part of QF's Pre-University Education, also led interactive workshops on the oud, nay, and qanun.
Timeline
November 01, 2026: Article published about the Madrid conference.
Medieval and Renaissance
The second Conference of the Chair of Arab Studies continues a series of Qatar Foundation scholarly gatherings, extending the Chair's focus on Arab cultural history into Iberian musical traditions. The Madrid program moves from medieval repertoires to contemporary works.
Readers interested in the program can follow Qatar Foundation's cultural initiatives for future events. Access details for the conference's public concerts and workshops were not specified in the source.
The takeaway
Cross-cultural music scholarship often traces its roots through manuscripts and early recordings. Those primary sources remain useful for anyone studying how musical traditions travel and change.
Further reading
Explore more in Medieval and Renaissance coverage.
