Om Kalsoum
Wa Maret el Ayam
Sono Cairo (France) 1971
SC 22 131 (LP) Single-sided coated sleeve.
sleeve : EX (slightly collapse on corners)
media : EX/EX (some slightly noise)
An album released in 1971 by Om Kalsoum, the Egyptian female singer who emerged in the 1930s and, along with Fairuz, became one of the most well-known and beloved figures in Arab music. This work from 1970 features lyrics by Ma’moun El Shenawy and music by Mohamed Abdel Wahab. It is one of Kalsoum's representative masterpieces from her later years, symbolizing the style of the late 1960s and early 1970s. It's a core representative song from a period that fused the gravitas of classical Arab vocal music with more modern and sophisticated orchestration. This long song, structured in three parts and utilizing both sides of the record, is said to incorporate elements of a Libyan song Wahab heard during his travels in the second part. The instrumentation is also notable, not solely focusing on traditional Arab instruments, but featuring an orchestration that includes guitar and accordion, lending an urban and cinematic breadth while preserving classical vocal traditions. Highly recommended.