Amman residents will be able to sample a fusion of Dutch and Jordanian tunes performed by around 30 musicians from both countries at the Palace of Culture this evening.

The Nederlands Blazers Ensemble (NBE), who play wind instruments, and Jordan’s Rum Tareq Al Nasser Group will present some of their own works as well as pieces that they have remixed together, according to musicians taking part in the two concerts.

Organised by the embassy of the Netherlands in Amman, the concert will be followed by another in the port city of Aqaba on Thursday.

Musicians taking part in the two concerts said it is an opportunity to merge different cultures, techniques and music genres to enrich one’s own experience in the field.

They also noted that the event is an opportunity for Rum fans in the capital to listen to their favourite music with a new and totally different twist.

“I live here in Amman and they live in Amsterdam. Each of us sees things that the other side cannot recognise,” said Rum percussionist Shadi Khries, adding that mixing with musicians from different parts of the world “melts experiences together”.

“People who like Rum Group will get the chance to enjoy its tunes in different settings,” the 27-year-old told The Jordan Times in an interview last week.

Yarub Smirat, who plays the violin, believes such events help musicians network with their peers around the world.

“From their experience, we will get ideas on how to develop music in this country to a more professional level,” the 22-year-old noted.

NBE was founded 15 years ago, with 20 musicians who have performed in Holland and several other countries. The ensemble also organises composing workshops for young people and school students in the Netherlands.

Composer Tareq Al Nasser established the Rum Group in 1998 with some 20 performers who play his compositions locally and abroad. The award-winning musician is well-known for composing and arranging music for many Arab TV series.

“When we host a group of musicians, we are basically telling people that this is an important ensemble which you have to listen to,” Nasser said, noting that tonight’s pieces are among those which Rum does not frequently present on stage.

For him, the task of merging both groups’ music was not easy. “These are two ensembles with different styles… We shall see what will come out of the concert,” he told The Jordan Times.

NBE leader and oboe player Bart Schneemann agreed.

“It’s not so easy to do… you give a bit of yourself, you take a bit from the other side, and slowly a sort of new music comes out,” he told The Jordan Times in an e-mail.

“We like to learn from other cultures and that’s why we constantly try to play with musicians and groups… who have a different musical style than ours,” he remarked.