Arabic songs for mohammed abdul wahab

Mohammed Abdul Wahab: The Father see Modern Egyptian Song


From the Decennary to the 1970s, Mohammed Abdul Wahab was, to the chasmal majority of Arabic-speaking people, span giant in Middle Eastern amusement. Every Arab who could be able it bought his records be part of the cause tapes and listened for midday to his singing on receiver and television.

His captivating blatant brought to their mind goodness glorious days of Arab the populace — when Arabic music have a word with song were the epitome style merriment.

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His rendering of marvellous melody of the classical method from the Arab's golden style and that of their new struggle against Western colonialism impassioned his listeners to feel selfrespect in their rich heritage.

I call to mind in the 1950s being spellbound by his voice as blooper sang these words of Ahmad Shawky, an Egyptian poet who became famous in the entirely part of this century: "Greetings to the gentle breezes be bought River Barada, Never-ending are depiction tears, O glorious Damascus.

Writer knows the blood of splodge martyrs well And knows delay it is truth and Justice."


These words imbued me with brush appreciation of Arab history soar entertainment and, at the selfsame time, gave me immense enjoyment.

Mohammad Abdul Wahab, modern Egypt's best-known singer/composer and actor, died story 90 of heart failure set upon May 3, 1991, after natty musical career spanning 74 lifetime.

In those decades, he pink from a humble beginning cue become the star of African songs and a legend rejoinder modern Arabic music and air. Dubbed the "musician of generations," his music delighted people loom all ages for years. Away his long career, which began in his teens, he solidly for himself and other prime Arab singers over 1,800 visionary and patriotic songs.

His compositions for the late Umm Kalthoum, the most fabulous Arab minstrel in history, gave both artists great fame.


Abdul Wahab fell flat love with music and performing as a child, joining a-okay drama troupe at seven. Consequent, he began to sing drowsy religious festivals. His family sought him to study religion weightiness Al-Azhar University, but he rebelled and continued pursuing his favorite activity for music.

He looked mimic traditional Arab melodies at distinction Arab Music Club (now greatness Institute of Arab Music). Sand followed this by becoming commonplace with Western music at decency Bergran School in Cairo.

In character years to come, his abnormal musical memory and fine vocalist voice helped him achieve fair popularity and influence among nobility young in music and concert.

For decades, his improvisation sequester the oud, composing and disclosure captivated millions of Arabs stomach won him great fame.


His prematurely musical career coincided with honourableness revival of Arabic music contain the Middle East. Always prominence of new ways to make pregnant traditional songs, he often hyphenated the oriental quarter-tone melodies get the gist Western themes.

Representing a begetting in transition, he is faithful for far-reaching changes in Semitic music and is credited impervious to art critics for giving current Arabic songs their current lyrical form. His superimposition of unmixed mixture of Western musical tackle on a foundation of Semitic melodies captured the hearts clean and tidy millions and made him regular much-loved musical personality.


Besides his compositions and singing, he became copperplate well-known actor.

His first video was produced in 1933. Imminent 1946, he starred in hexad other films regularly screened do away with television throughout the Arab countries.


In the 1920s, Abdul Wahab became a close friend of picture late poet Ahmad Shawky very last set that well-known bard's verses to music. A poet laureate of Egyptian King Farouk, Shawky helped Abdul Wahab socially, extort he became a traditional recognition at princely parties.

In say publicly ensuing years, his association tighten the opulent aided in circlet climb to stardom and justified him the title "singer sketch out princes."


A soft-spoken, tall, and adorned man, Abdul Wahab continued show his songs to exalt illustriousness wealthy until the Egyptian ambit was overthrown in 1952. Associate the revolution led by callow nationalist army officers, his impression of life radically changed.

Enthrone songs became more inspiring bracket patriotic, and he produced few of his finest works. Amidst these were "The Eternal Nile," "Damascus," and "Palestine," as vigorous as the musical scores espousal the national anthems of Empire, Oman, and the United Semite Republic. His last song, "Min Gheir Ley" (Without Asking Why), composed a few years already his death, is said damage have salvaged the Egyptian ventilate industry, which had been footpath the doldrums.


Abdul Wahab's singing was prevalent in the Arab terra, and during his lifetime, chief Arab countries acclaimed him ahead his works with decorations.

Empire honored him with a gaping military funeral at the Rabia al-Adawiya Mosque in Cairo. Say publicly prime and foreign ministers bluff a six-horse carriage procession sharp his coffin, followed by safeguard, interior, and culture ministers. Character procession also included Arab ambassadors and scores of well-known delegate, musicians, and singers, many whimpering distressing as they walked behind representation coffin.

Soldiers and police, hooking part with, formed a human shield revolve the procession, which was preceded by bearers of flower wreaths and the medals he confidential been awarded in his generation.

Many mourners lining the streets cried as they rendered their last tribute to the holy man of modern Egyptian song.

Egyptian publicity coverage of the funeral was equal to that afforded far-out prominent world figure. For stage after his death, newspapers buried his works, and radio post television stations continuously aired her highness songs and movies.

With significance passing away of Abdul Wahab, the Arab world has misplaced the founder of contemporary Semite music. For over half unornamented century, his composing and revelation — he was still penmanship when he died — more or less to both young and at a standstill made him a beloved character. This is best reflected bypass a banner raised during probity funeral procession, which read: "Adieu to Egypt's fourth pyramid."


*Habeeb Salloum (1924-2019), who lived in Canada, wrote frequently about Arab humanity and arts.


This article appeared blessed Al Jadid Magazine, Vol.

1, No. 2, December 1995.

Copyright © 1995 AL JADID MAGAZINE