Mohammed Abdel Wahab

Mohammed Abd el Wahhab
Mohammed Abd el-Wahhab with a cümbüş mandolin
Background information
Native name محمد عبد الوهاب
Born (1902-03-13)March 13, 1902[1]
Cairo, Egypt[1]
Origin Egypt Egypt
Died May 4, 1991(1991-05-04) (aged 89)
Cairo, Egypt
Genres Egyptian Music
Years active 1917–1991
Labels EMI Classics

Mohammed Abd el-Wahhab (Arabic: محمد عبد الوهاب‎, Egyptian Arabic: عبد الوهـاب Abd El-Wahhab) , also transliterated Mohamed Abdel Wahab (March 13, 1902 – May 4, 1991)[2] was a prominent 20th-century Egyptian singer and composer.

He's best known for his Romantic and Egyptian patriotic songs. He also composed "Ya Beladi" (also known as "Libya, Libya, Libya") the National anthem of Libya used by the Kingdom of Libya from 1951 to 1969 and again by the post-Gaddafi transitional government in 2011.[3] He also composed the national anthem of Tunisia, "Humat al-Hima" as well as the United Arab Emirates national anthem "Ishy Bilady" and many Egyptian nationalist songs like "Ya Masr tam El-Hanna", "Hay Ala El-Falah", "Masr Nadetna falbena El-nedaa", "Oulo le Masr", "Hob El-watan Fard Alyi", "Sout El-Gamaheer", "Ya Nessmet El-Horria", "Sawae'd men Beladi".

Life

Mohammed 'Abd al-Wahhab was born in 1902 in Cairo, Egypt, in a neighborhood called Bab El-Sheriyah, where there is now a statue of him. He began his singing career at an early age and made his first public performances at age seven at local productions. He was 13 when he made his first recording. Mohammed 'Abd al-Wahhab was a very close friend to compatriot singer Abdel Halim Hafez.

Film career

In 1933 'Abd al-Wahhab began composing his own style of Egyptian film musical after visiting Paris and familiarizing himself with French musical film.[1] He introduced a lighthearted genre of musical film to Egyptian culture eventually composing eight musical comedies between 1933 and 1949. His films portrayed Western social elite and included music that veered off from the traditional Egyptian tune. He starred in his 1934 film The White Flower which broke records in attendance and still plays frequently in Egyptian theaters. In 1950 'Abd al-Wahhab left film to focus on being a more profound singer.

Contribution to Egyptian and Arabic musi

Egyptian singer and composer Mohammed Abdel Wahab Statue at Bab El-Shariya square, Cairo

'Abd el-Wahhab composed more than 1820 songs.[1] 'Abd al-Wahhab is considered to be one of the most innovative Egyptian musicians of all time, laying the foundation for a new era of Egyptian music with his use of non-local rhythms and refined oud playing.

Despite the fact that 'Abd el-Wahhab composed many songs and musical pieces of classical Arabic music, he was always criticized for his orientation to Western music. In fact, he introduced Western rhythms to Egyptian songs in a way appropriate to the known then very classical forms of Egypt songs. For example, in 1941, he introduced a waltz rhythm in his song "El Gandol," and, in 1957, he introduced a rock and roll rhythm in Abdel Halim Hafez's song "Ya Albi Ya Khali".

He composed some of the best hits of Nagat El Saghira including four poems by Nizar Qabbani.

'Abd el-Wahhab played oud before the prominent Egyptian poet, Ahmed Shawqi, and acted in several movies. He composed ten songs for Umm Kulthum. He was the first Egyptian singer to move from silent-era acting to singing.[4]

Death

Mohammed 'Abd el-Wahhab died in his hometown Cairo, Egypt of heart failure on May 4, 1991.

Legacy

'Abd el-Wahhab was fundamental in establishing a new Era of Egyptian music in his homeland and across the Arab world. He also left a mark on the Western world by exposing Egyptian music to Western classical and popular traditions.

He composed the United Arab Emirates' national anthem and The Libyan anthem.

Filmography

As actor
  • The White Rose (1933)
  • Doumou' el Hub (Love's Tears) (1936)
  • Yahya el Hub (Long Live Love) (1938)
  • Yawm Sa'id (Happy Day) (1939)
  • Mamnou'a el Hub (Love Is Forbidden) (1942)
  • Rossassa Fel Qalb (A Bullet in the Heart) (1944)
  • Lastu mallakan (I'm No Angel) (1947)

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Mohammad Abdel Wahab". Al Mashriq. Retrieved 2016-07-16.
  2. ↑ Egyptian State Information Service. Sis.gov.eg (1991-05-04). Retrieved on 2012-03-13.
  3. ↑ About Libya: Libyan National Anthem, National Transitional Council of Libya, archived from the original on July 21, 2011, retrieved August 23, 2011
  4. ↑ Best Arabic Music. Best Arabic Music. Retrieved on 2012-03-13.

Selected Mohammed 'Abd al-Wahhab compositions from YouTube Web site:

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