This week’s class music is “Ghanili Shweya Shweya”, which means “Sing for Me A Little”. This happy little tune is one of Oum Kalthoum’s first hits. It is a taqtuqa format song so it has a simple verse and chorus pattern, unlike the much more complex songs of her later career.
The song was composed by Zakariyya Ahmad for the 1945 movie “Sallama”, in which Oum Kalthoum plays a Bedouin slave girl.
The lyrics are happy and have quite a few interesting phrases and references. You can read the full lyrics here, but the chorus will give you the general idea:
Sing to me softly, softly
Sing to me, you enchant me
Sing to me softly, softly
Sing to me, you enchant me
We are dancing to to this version performed by the National Arab Orchestra, featuring Mai Farouk (ahh-mazing) and Lubana al Quntar singing. It’s worth noting here that a conductor is not traditional to the Arabic way of playing in an ensemble. Traditionally, the musicians, led by the riq or doumbek player, coordinate and cooperate organically in the moment letting each other take solos or do improvisation. The conductor here, Michael Ibrahim is so interesting and lively, bringing the audience in and adding some spontaneity to the orchestral performance, blending Arabic tradition with the western orchestra arrangement. So uplifting – enjoy!
