Persian, Algerian and Arabic music make up the World Sound programme at The National Centre for Early Music, in York, next month.

Safar open the season tomorrow evening by exploring the music of the era of the 13th century Venetian explorer Marco Polo. In the group are soprano Sara Stowe and instrumentalists Ahmed Abdul Rahman, Martin Allan, Matthew Spring and Jon Banks.

Marco Polo travelled, in his own words, further than any man since Creation. Tomorrow's programme presents the changing soundscape of the silk road that he took on his voyage to China in 1271.

Many of the instruments he would have heard along the way were made, as they still are today, of the mulberry wood whose leaves exclusively fed the precious silkworms.

These instruments include not only the Persian tar and setar, to be heard in tomorrow's (1st) second half, but also the percussion that features throughout.

On November 8, Abdelkader Saadoun leads his Arabic Rai group. Rai originates from traditional Algerian music and its main features are percussion, singing and dance. Based on strong rhythms, this dynamic and danceable music is the most popular music in North Africa.

Saadoun's band, which performed at the WOMAD festival last year, uses traditional instruments including the mandole, hadjoudj, Arabic lute, North African percussion and other European instruments (brass, bass guitar, drums and electric guitars).

Blind musician, composer and singer/songwriter Hassan Erraji will be joined by Arabesque on November 15 to round off the series with a fusion of Arabic music, jazz and other world music styles.

Erraji's main instrument is the oud, but he is accomplished with hand-drums, the qanun (harp-zither), the nay (end-blown bamboo flute) and the violin too.

All three concerts start at 7.30pm at the NCEM in Walmgate, and tickets can be booked on 01904 658338 or via the website www.ncem.co.uk. Prices are £10, concessions £8, students £3.50.

Updated: 09:25 Friday, October 31, 2003