ON MUSIC

Music played a major role in my life. I owe to my father for the early introduction to Arabian music. That of the Maestros - Muhammad Abdel Wahab and Umm Kalthoum. I still remember vividly my father playing the Cairo-phone record of Abdel Wahab on the old Phillips in our bulb lighted kitchen in the evenings before sleep took the better of me. The song was "Modna ka jafa hu marqaduhu".

Later in life, I learnt to appreciate Fairuz, the jewel of the Levant;
Farid-el-Atrache and Abdel Halim Hafez -  and the memorable pieces by Ron Goodwin and Orchestra. The latter's "Return to Paradise"  and  "Cedars of Lebanon" are my all time favourites. Of Fairuz, I love "Shal", "Yara", "Meshwar" and "Sanarjiou Yaoman".

Besides Arabian music, my father also taught me the beauty of Hindustani music, especially those of the 50's - by Naushad, Shanker and Jaikishan and Ghulam Muhammad. My favourite singer is Mukesh.

These beautiful music occupied my turbulent teenage years. My preference for the melancholic, on the hindsight, reflected a deep loss of and a search for "something", the object of which was brought to bear many years later when I met my beloved Teacher. It was HE, who taught me the beauty of Silence.
                                                                                                                                            - ABA
HOME
>>NEXT

---