This Friday on Middle Eastern Influences, we welcome Sami Abu Shumays, the director of Zikrayat, founder of the Arabic Music pedagogical website, and Deputy Director of Flushing Town Hall. Sami will play examples of maqam-based music from around the Mediterranean and talk about Arabic Music styles, forms, and scales, among other topics. Zikrayat is a NYC-based Arab Music and dance ensemble that performs repertory from across the Arab world, with a special focus on Egypt and the "Golden Age" of Egyptian film musicals, the 1930's - 60's. Zikrayat will perform as part of Lincoln Center Local on Saturday, August 3rd, 2:30pm at Ridgewood Library in Queens.