favorite Arabic music classics

[Bouks]

In my study of Middle Eastern percussion (I play the doumbek, aka the derbouka), I have had the privilege of getting to know some of the classic songs that people in the Middle East have grown up with.

To mention some favorites of mine: among the works of the famous Umm Kalthoum, I love the song "Ana Fi Intizarak""). It's been remade many times by different people.

I also love to listen to the smooth voice of Farid Al-Atrache (the spelling varies on his name). Any of his works. His voice is expressive and serene at the same time.

Another favorite song of mine, which I have only heard as an intsrumental, is the lively "Qariat Al-Finjan" (The Reader of Tea Leaves). Very fun to drum to!

[anitagomez]

Hi Bouks,

Nice to meet somebody here who also loves Arabic music, and while I only listen to it you do it actively with a darbouka. I have one at home from Tunisia but it sits in the shelf and serves as a nice decoration.

I only know the Qariat al Fingan song sung by Abdel Halim Hafez and I think it is a beautiful song. Here's a link to listen to it:

http://www.infomideast.com/halim/QariatElFingan.wma

Did you know that the lyrics to this song were written by Nizar Qabbani, a Syrian modern poet who wrote many beautiful poems? Unfortunately, he died ten years ago. I just love them and have collected many of them though, with my rudimentary Arabic, I only understand very, very little, but some are translated.

I also like the songs of Fairouz and Magida el Roumi.

So I wish us both good luck with our Arabic studies and when we will be fed up with all the irregular grammar issues we can always listen to beautiful music that will cheer us up.

[Bouks]

Thank you for the link, Anita! I didn't know about the writer of the lyrics.

It is frustrating to see the slow startup here, but I am sure they will get the site rolling at a faster speed soon. Being an FFC member means it will pay off for me in the long run, but subscribers who don't plan on staying for a long time would certainly be frustrated. They may have opened the sit a bit prematurely...it would have been much better to put the reference content up first.

Oops, I pressed "submit" too early...I'll edit this message to say that since this type of language-learning site (I'm talking about this and all the sister sites) is somewhat of a pioneer project, there's no preset model to follow, so kudos to the staff for working to pull it together. I don't want to be too critical of them - not sure I could do a better job even with my longtime language learning experience.

[Musouka]

If you like Oud, you can never go wrong with Marcel Khalife.

This guy is a genius.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcel_Khalife

[anitagomez]

Thanks, Musouka, for the information on Michel Khalife. I just listened to some music on the internet and I really, really liked it. How come I never heard of him before? Must add him to my favourite Arabic musicians.

[AndrewPenney]

Hello! I am very fond of a very unique kind of Arab music that I can only call "blues/jazz piano + raspy vocals". Eg. Many years ago, I bought an album by Reinette l'Oranaise, out of pure curiosity, and was completely swept away by it. More recently, I heard some more of the same kind of music, and recognized it, in the form of a re-mixed, "electronica"-style song by Maurice el Medioni ("Laissez-moi me griser..."). If I'm not mistaken, it's a 20th-century style that is unique to the Maghreb. The way those people use the piano takes my breath way. Thanks for starting this thread!

[AndrewPenney]

How I love youtube... why didn't I think of it sooner?

A clip of Maurice el Medioni:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Uhhdalg ... re=related

[AndrewPenney]

And here's another one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm-aK3rYUOY

I hope you like it!

[Musouka]

Thanks, those were some fine pieces

For instrumental music, try إلياس الرحباني (Elias El Rahbani)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My8LeN0wRnM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxj08jO6nOk

or عمر خيرت (Omar Khairat)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paCd63lLhsA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G15khylOtb4

[AndrewPenney]

Thanks for the beautiful music!

[professorina]

I suggest to all the inimitable voice of the lebanese singer Fairouz!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pZyKu5bvPo