Baghdad: The Department of Musical Arts is taking significant steps to preserve and document the performances in Husseini chants through a seminar organized on Tuesday. The event, titled ‘Responsive and Alternating Performance in Husseini Recitations,’ took place at the People’s Hall under the guidance of Qasim Taher Al-Sudani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities for Arts Affairs.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the seminar received the participation of Dr. Faiz Taha Al-Obaidi, Director General of the Department, and Major General Abbas Abu Al-Fadl, representing the Shahed Cultural Foundation, along with several academics, researchers, and individuals interested in cultural and artistic affairs. The focus of the seminar was to underscore the artistic and performance elements of Husseini recitations, highlighting their role in preserving Iraqi cultural heritage and promoting specialized studies in traditional arts.

Researcher Israa Al-Marsoumi contributed to the event by presenting a research paper that examined the artistic and cultural dimensions of responsive and alternating performance in Husseini recitations. Her insights shed light on the importance of these performances as a reflection of Iraq’s rich cultural identity.

The symposium concluded with an engaging open dialogue, encouraging active participation from attendees. This interaction underscored the need for continued efforts in organizing specialized seminars aimed at documenting traditional arts, thereby playing a crucial role in preserving Iraq’s musical and cultural legacy.