The Arab League Musical Assembly plans to release a CD of rare pieces performed by the late Egyptian singer Umm Kulthoum including nine songs, four of them folk songs in colloquial Arabic composed by Sabri Al Nagridi, according to the Arabic daily Al Hayat.
The assembly head, Ratibah Al Hafni, who is currently participating in the 10th Bahraini Music Festival, has commented on the historical and musical aspects of these rarely recorded songs, pointing out that they reveal the strong talents of Nagridi. The amateur composer and dentist lived in the Egyptian town of Tanta, and met the late singer in 1924.
Vocalist Mohsen Farouk helped in securing original records of the songs, which include some written by Ahmed Rami and the poem Mali Futentu Bilahthek (What Happened to Me, Captivated by You) written by Ali Al Garem.
Umm Kulthoom’s CD is one of a series of releases of leading and rare Arabic musical works.
Farouk, who participated in a concert during which a number of Egyptian singers and players revived the musical atmosphere of the 1920s and 1930s, said, “the second release will include a CD entitled Endama Yatrab Al Mashyekh (When Clerics Become Hilarious). This will include musical roles performed by clerics known for their singing and musical skills - Albawaba.com
