From the 17th century, Oman had its own empire, and vied with Portugal and Britain for influence in the Gulf and Indian Ocean. With a strategically important position at the mouth of the Gulf, at its peak in the 19th century, Omani influence or control extended across the Strait of Hormuz to Iran and modern day Pakistan and as far south as Zanzibar where the country's ruler had his main residence. Rich in oil, Oman was a founding member of the Gulf Co-operation Council and has managed to steer a clever course in promoting the country's development, whilst at the same time preserving its traditions and heritage. Unlike some of its neighbours, Oman's oil wealth has not tempted the Sultan to look to the West for its image of progress. Instead, Omani traditions are promoted and encouraged, whilst the country's infrastructure has been built up to benefit the citizens. In fact, in November 2010, the United Nations Development Programme listed Oman, from among 135 countries worldwide, as the nation most-improved during the last 40 years. This is due to the foresight and policy of the country's ruler, Sultan Qaboos bin Saeed, who has been on the throne since 1970. Rich in many cultural treasures, one area in which this clever balance between progress and tradition in Oman can be found is that of music. On the one hand, Omani traditional music is promoted and encouraged. On the other, the country has an Opera House and Symphony Orchestra worthy of many capital city. The rich treasure of Omani traditional music, historical songs and dances has been systematically collected and academically documented at the Oman Centre for Traditional Music. Not surprisingly, because of the country's history, influences from Africa, India and Iran are unmistakable in the music of the people. At celebrations and festivals all over the Sultanate, the country's traditional music and instruments can be heard. The mirwas, a double-sided hand drum, is a popular instrument, as is the habban, a traditional kind of bagpipe. People have been the key to Oman's transformation over the last forty years. The Sultan has repeatedly asserted that the human being is not only the ultimate goal of any development process, but also its instrument and means. Therefore, sustained investment in educational and cultural infrastructures, to promote the wellbeing of the people, while strengthening the pillars of the modern State, has been the country's high priority. It is no secret that Sultan Qaboos enjoys classical Western music, especially the music of Mozart. So it was that he decided to establish a symphony orchestra, using Omani citizens as its core. In 1985 there was quite literally no-one who played an instrument for such an orchestra, so government officials scoured the country looking for talented youngsters. These young people were given a boarding school education and taught both music and other studies. The best of them were not sent to America or Europe to further their studies, but foreign professionals were brought to Oman instead to teach them. This really is the important key to Oman's renaissance. The young musicians stayed in their country so that they would continue to love its history, heritage and culture, rather than going abroad and being lured by the attractions of the West. These youngsters have grown today to be the core of the modern orchestra, the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra, which still insists on attracting Omanis, rather than foreigners, to be its players. The season repertoire of the magnificent Royal Opera House in Muscat, which opened in 2011 and is home to the symphony orchestra, therefore includes not only "classical" western repertory but also music of traditional and modern Arabian and Omani origin. The Opera House opened with three major productions. Puccini's Turandot was the premiere production, specially commissioned for the Royal Opera House for its inaugural season, with Placido Domingo and the orchestra of the Fondazione Arena di Verona. This was followed by Bizet's Carmen, with stage designs by the Oscar Prize-winning set designer Gianni Quaranta and then Swan Lake was performed by the famous Mariinsky Ballet accompanied by the Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra conducted by Boris Gruzin. The 2012-2013 season sees four guest productions, including Aida, La Bohème and Madama Butterfly. Like Cairo's own Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra will this month to celebrate the anniversary of the composer Richard Wagner. Muslims read in the holy Qur'an "... (Such is) the artistry of Allah, Who disposes of all things in perfect order..." (al-Naml 27:88) Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) told us that Allah is beautiful and He loves beauty. In visiting the Sultanate of Oman, inshallah, the beautiful music of Oman, whether it to be traditional or classical, can show us the country's rich and diverse culture and history. More importantly, though, it can also lead all of us a little closer to the One who creates all beautiful things. British Muslim writer, Idris Tawfiq, teaches at Al-Azhar University and is the author of nine books about Islam. You can visit his website at www.idristawfiq.com, join him on Facebook at Idris Tawfiq Page and listen to his Radio Show, “A Life in Question," on Sundays at 11pm on Radio Cairo 95.4 FM.
