For Musafir Al Sinani, a qualified and talented Omani violinist, music is the essence of life. Born in Sur on 11th March, 1985, he completed his education from the Higher Institute of Music in Kuwait, specialising in playing the violin. But his love affair with the instrument goes back to the age of nine when he first started playing the violin.
When asked what drew him towards the violin, he explains: “I saw my father play the violin when I was a child. He was a professional violinist; it stirred an interest in me to make a mark in the same field.” It was, however, in 2005 that Musafir got his first official break to perform in Kuwait.
When asked to describe what makes him unique from other musicians in Oman, given the fact that there is stiff competition within the arts and creative field, Musafir smiles and replies: “My passion for music is evident in the way I play Eastern and Western music styles. Add to that the fact that I can blend them to create a unique fusion… It is, however, thanks to my Bachelor’s Degree in Music which has provided me with the fundamentals in music.”
Musafir comes across as a determined and strong-willed individual who likes to channel his thoughts and energy towards positivity. It is evident in his reply when asked to describe his weaknesses and strengths: “I do not have any weaknesses, because I like to focus on my strengths.” But the fact is that music is a technical and creative field; composition is not an easy task and one must be well-versed in creating something new each time… Musafir, however, dismisses that thought, as he says: “It is like a normal language where one learns the basics, which tends to be hard; but, after a while, it becomes easy for the learner since he/she has mastered the skill.”
He believes that re-creating an original track of another musician, in his version, is not hard because he has done his homework of studying and practising it. An enthusiastic individual who is open to learning, he likes to learn from every musician. He says he uses what he considers is appropriate and best suited for his musical style. Even though he is still at the beginning of his musical career, Musafir has performed at numerous venues and events in Oman, including the recent ‘In Parallel’ art exhibition of Bahraini artist Sheikh Rashid Al Khalifa at the Bait Al Muzna Gallery. Among his achievements, he lists his performance in Korea’s Festival (2017) and at the Royal Opera House in Oman (2019).
He attributes his success to the support from his family. As Musafir emphasises, “My father is one of my biggest supporters. I am indebted to him. He has done so much for me; he even sold his land so I could complete my education in the music field.” He has also earned positive feedback from the local community. Pointing out that people have expressed their joy and amazement over his tunes, he says, “They enjoy my musical tunes since they find in it a blend of Arabic, Western and Eastern music, which gives an excellent and a positive impression; they see it as a new form of music.”
The talented Musafir not only enjoys playing music, he also provides tutorials in various locations in Oman, drawing people to learn the art of playing the violin. He aspires to be one of the best and leading musicians in due time and also to become a special representative of the Omani culture through his music.