Born 1970 in Baghdad, to a prominent family of musicians; whose father Hussein Qaddori was a musicologist that specialized in children’s’ folk songs & rhymes. His brother Qusay Qaddori is also a Cello player in the Budapest philharmonic orchestra Greatly inspired by the legendry oud player, the late Munir Bachir, Furat had eloquently acquired expertise in mastering the Qanoun (flat zither-type instrument).

Education

• Baghdad School of Music & Ballet 1975 - 1986

• Baghdad Institute of Musical Studies 1986 - 1992

• Baghdad Academy of Fine Arts 1992 - 1995

According to Furat, the Qanoun has a specific tune that is closely related to Iraqi traditional music. It is a commonality that the
Qanoun is part of the Oriental Takht (musical ensemble). However, Furat has extended its usage into being an instrument that can be played solo and he has succeeded in bringing out unique and expressive tunes. His participation in several international events has enabled him to mix and incorporate rhythms of various cultures specifically with Jazz & Latin tunes. Furat’s musical compositions extends beyond being strictly a commercial approach, his music rather takes a deeper and more expressive style to continually enhance and innovate the Iraqi Maqam.( a 400 year old genre of Arabic Music found in Iraq)

In 1998 - Jordan, Furat released his album ‘Mesopotamian Qanoun’. His album successfully proved his ability to solely play the Qanoun as a stand-alone instrument. His innovativeness then led him to mélange other tunes into his music such as the Caribbean and Latin tunes and so he released his second album “The Spirit Calls”. His relocation to Belgium, Germany & United Arab Emirates increased his cultural awareness and expanded his musical capabilities. His 3rd album, yet another more mature achievement was “Hanging Gardens” which is a tale about two people vowing eternal love to each other. Furat uses the Qanoun as the central key-instrument and links it in a fun-dialogical approach with other instruments incorporating traditional Iraqi music and other Middle Eastern rhythms.

Ali Abdel Amir
Reporter, Poet & Music Critic

Musical Instructorships

• Baghdad School of Music & Ballet 1986

• Dar el Salam Center for music 1986 – 1994

• Baghdad Institute of Musical Studies 1992 - 1994

• Taught in private schools in UAE, since 2005

• New English School Jordan, 1997 – 1999

• Arabic Cultural Center , Belgium, 1998 – 2002

• Jordan Freddy for Music, 1999

Bands & affiliations

• Furat Qaddori & his Fusion Band

• Sidara Group

• Sarband

• Al bayarek

• Lagash Group

• The Iraqi Maqam Ensemble

• Al Rafidain

• Mesopotamia Band

• Babylon Band

• Akad GroupThe New Day Band

Concerts & Recitals

• Dubai International Jazz Festival 2007 & 2008

• Arabic Music Festival, Abu Dhabi, 2008

• Furat Qaddori & His Fusion Band – Chillout Festival 2008

• STYRIARTE Festival, Graz – Austria, 2008

• Fusion Music by Furat Qadduori on , Balabhaskar( Indian Violinist) & Troupe, Dubai, 2008

• Singapore Festival - Arabic Bach With SARBAND, 2007

• Solo recital, Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, 2006

• Jerash Festival, Jordan 2006

• International Confronts for Ethnomusicology In Taiwan, 2004

• Concert In Holland- Maastricht, with Lagash group, 2004

• Concert & Confronts – London, Al Kufa Gallery, 2004

• Several concerts, in Germany & Belgium, solo recitals, with Lagash & Sidara 2002-2004.

• Mozart Festival - Belgium , 2003

• Concert In Belgium – st.vith, with Lagash group, 2002

• The Voice of Women Festival – Belgium, 2002

• Two evening concerts at the House of philosophy – opera House at the city of Torino Italy,2002

• Desert Rain Festival – Italy, 2002

• Guatemala Festival, 1999

• Musical conference of Arab Union for Music – France, 1998

• align="justify">International Assembly Jerash Festival – Jordan, 1997 & 1998

• Jerash Festival duet with Naseer Shamma, 1998

• Arabic music Festival – Egypt, 1997 & 1998

• Babylon International Festival – Baghdad, 1994 & 1996
   

In addition to the above, Furat was daring & innovative enough to incorporate new rhythms with the Qanoun by accompanying it with Indian music, Bangladeshi music, gipsy music from Balkan countries, flamingo music, Italian music, classical music- piano and clarinet-, jazz music, Dervish and Maulas and Syrians hymn & Church Choirs – most of which were played in Arabic Cultural Center in Belgium.