top of page

MY STORY

Composer and musician Nebal Maysaud laughing while seated on the edge of their porch

"Professional" Bio

Nebal is a scholar, poet, and composer whose works focus on the profundity of pitch, semiotics, and esotericism to create artworks that transcend the physical and foster cosmic connection towards the realization of radical unity. Their trans-temporal work between uncovering ancient musical practices and theologies, combined with contemporary values for experimentation and innovation has led the composer to discover and document a system for counterpoint and harmony within the Arabic Maqam system for the first time. With the creation of a reliable system for Ma'am polyphony, new possibilities emerged in the creation of magic squares as music, along with new forms of music therapy and drama. Decolonized Arabesques was the first piece that revealed this possibility of polyphony inside Arabic music melodies, and layali beirut is their most recent example - a fugue in Maqam Rahat al-Arwah that contains a B half-flat tonic. 

 

Beyond their research into Islamic esoteric philosophy and its manifestations within the field of Arabic music, the composer is also equally if not more adept at conventional Western music as well. Nebal has written in a wide variety of genres ranging between tonal, minimalist, abstract, graphic, and electronic within the realm of Western music as well, and ultimately finds their home at the intersection of these distinct styles. Their 3rd Piano Sonata, Bedtime Stories for the Inner Child showcases the composer’s passion for long-form music, dexterity of style, and rigid control of form. Similarly, al-Wahdat al-Wujud showcases the composer’s creativity in the realm of graphic notation, electronic manipulation, and religious exploration outside the context of Islam. 

 

The composer’s current projects include Kitab al-Tabaqat or The Book of Layers, a treatise on counterpoint in Arabic music that takes inspiration from Rameau’s Treatise on Harmony, Fux’s Gradus Ad Parnassum along with al-Farabi’s Kitab al-Musika Kebir (The Great Book of Music) and the philosophies of various Sufi schools and scholars including Ibn Arabi and al-Bumi. Out of principle, the composer does not share any pronouns, images of themself, nor educational background as to insist that the music and music only be concerned when engaging with the composer in a professional capacity. 

Alternate, More Informal Bio

Nebal is an scholar, poet, and composer whose works focus on the profundity of pitch, semiotics, and esotericism to create artworks that transcend the physical and foster cosmic connection towards the realization of radical unity. Their research has led them to invent a process for Counterpoint in Arabic Music which has led to innovations in magic squares, and potential implications on music therapy. Decolonized Arabesques was the first piece that revealed this possibility of polyphony inside Arabic music melodies, and layali beirut is their most recent example - a fugue in Maqam Rahat al-Arwah that contains a B half-flat tonic. Nebal has written in a wide variety of genres ranging between tonal, minimalist, abstract, graphic, and electronic within the realm of Western music as well, and ultimately finds their home at the intersection of these distinct styles.

Composer Nebal Maysaud

My Composition Process

A lot of musicians, artists, and curious friends ask me what the commission process is like. Everyone’s process is different. 

 

For me, I developed this process to make the commission experience understandable to everyone while also ensuring that pieces are submitted on time.

 

Stage 0: Initial Consultation

  1. Schedule Consultation: Interested in working together? Reach out and we can schedule a time to meet. 
     

  2. Approve Proposal: You’ll receive a proposal based on our discussion that lays out cost, timeline & review process
     

  3. Sign Contract & Submit Deposit: You can accept the proposal by signing the attached contract and submitting your first payment. Once that’s done you’re officially a commissioner!

      Stage 1: Research & Discovery

  4. Attend Discovery Meeting & Workshop: This is where we dive deep into what we want out of this commission. This is a safe space for complete honesty & transparency
     

  5. Create Spotify Playlist: One of the more fun parts about my process is that we develop a Spotify (or YouTube, or whatever) playlist together full of music that’s inspiring us both. This helps me get clarity on the sound world you’re looking for.
     

  6. Review Formal Structure & Initial Sketches: Once I have an idea of what kind of soundworld you want to create, then you’ll review a proposal for how I intend to translate everything we talked about into a new piece. 


      Stage 2: The First Draft

  7. Receive Regular Updates: Depending on the timeline, we’ll either set up a phone call or I’ll send email updates regarding where the piece is and what progress I’m making. 
     

  8. Receive First Draft: Only after I’ve created numerous drafts of my own, and had the piece edited and approved by a respected composer colleague will you receive the first draft. This guarantees that you will not be reviewing any work that is low quality, unplayable, unidiomatic, or poorly engraved. 


       Stage 3: The Review Process

  9. Review 1st & 2nd Drafts: Even though the piece should be polished by the 1st draft, sometimes there are changes you want to make for the piece to better fit what you want to do. Don’t be afraid to make any requests. 
     

  10. Review 3rd Draft & Submit Recording: By this draft, you should play the piece with your ensemble (or alone, depending on the commission) and send a recording. We make any final minor changes until the score and recording are satisfactory for both the composer & performer. 

      Stage 4: Sign-Off

  11. Sign-off: Once you’re satisfied with the work, you’ll sign-off on the piece, stating that you and I are both satisfied with the work and ready to perform it! 
     

  12. Receive Final Draft: Once you’ve gone through three rounds of review, you’ll receive the final draft! Congrats, you now have a final piece! 
     

  13. Submit Invoice: Usually the final payment is made upon receiving the final draft, although monthly payment plans are available. 


      Stage 5: Performance

  14. Rehearse: Although you’ve submitted a recording to sign-off, that was just to show that you are able to play the piece. I’m more than welcome to attend any rehearsals and workshop the piece further with you. 
     

  15. Perform! You did it! Now it’s time to premiere the piece and share our collaboration with the world.

​

My Values

  1. Liberate our communities by any means necessary
     

  2. Accept that art alone is useless for liberation. 
     

  3. Connect our art to liberation through communal labor. 
     

  4. Divest and boycott harmful institutions that keep people of color from creating art. 
     

  5. Create alternate sources of funding, and resources exclusively for BIPoC artists. Especially Black & Indigenous communities. 

FAQ

What Kind of Music Do You Write? 

My music is a unique mix of influences across several genres, particularly Arabic and Contemporary music. I encourage you to listen for yourself or if you want to know more about the music that inspires me, check out this Playlist of my Listening Guides, which I go more in depth about on Patreon. 

​

What is a Commission?

 

A Commission is when you pay a composer to write a piece of music for you. Usually this comes from performers: musicians who like your music and want to play something written just for them. However, you don’t have to be a performer or ensemble to commission a piece of music. You can also commission some music for a film you’re working on, or even just a quick song to commemorate something or someone. Anyone in any genre with any (or no) experience can commission a piece.

​

How Much Does a Commission cost?

 

Most commissions I’ve done so far are between $1,500-$3,500 for small chamber pieces. NewMusicBox has a great commission fee calculator if you want to explore more.

​

I’m considering doing a commission, what do I do?

 

That’s great! Working together to create a work of art specifically for you is one of the most magical experiences you can have. Whether it’s me or another composer, I always recommend reaching out to the composer and letting them know what your situation is. I’m happy to arrange a meeting where we can talk about working together, or just have a consultation to learn more about commissioning new music. Use this link to schedule a meeting.

​

I’ve Never Done a Commission Before, Can We Still Work Together? 

 

Of course! Whether this is your first commission or your hundredth, my process is organized, informative, and collaborative. I want everyone to have the opportunity to create art and that means being transparent and organized so that anyone can follow along.

4 Truths and a Lie

  1. Studied Religious Studies with an emphasis on Buddhism
     

  2. Ben Shapiro retweeted a thinly veiled death threat against me
     

  3. I freaking love hummus
     

  4. I’ve shut down Nazis in Drag
     

  5. My hookah flavor is apple mint

bottom of page