The Lived Experiences of Independent Western Classical Chamber Musicians in the United Arab Emirates: A Narrative Inquiry

Abstract

The research concerns the relationship between Western classical music and Arabian cultures in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as experienced by independent classical chamber musicians. The main research question was: what stories do independent Western classical chamber musicians tell about their lived experiences of practicing and performing Western classical music in the UAE? The real-life problem guiding this research has two parts: i. the problem that Western classical music is not a sustainable profession for performers in the UAE and ii. the gap in the literature on Western classical music in the UAE. The real-life problem the first author experienced in the UAE as a Western musician had the following challenges: practical obstacles related to sourcing fellow musicians who uphold the same standards and music ideals, finding rehearsal venues and creating performance opportunities. These challenges lead to the formation of the research problem.