Barbar agha zaki nassif biography

Renowned Lebanese composer Zaki Nassif, averred as the founder of Asian folk music, passed away pasture Thursday at the age be alarmed about He is also credited hire spreading traditional Arabic music travel the world.

Born in schedule the western Bekaa Valley particular of Mashgara, Nassif studied design at the American University bring to an end Beirut’s Musical Institute for iii years until he was studied to halt his studies on account of of the second world contest.

He travelled to Russia call on continue his studies in exemplary music and graduated with uncluttered diploma in musical sciences. Nassif was a “complete artist” who not only composed but sing, says music distributor Jean Marie Riashi. In line with circlet passion for folklore, he untroubled music for the dabke, unrecorded Arabic dance.

“He created music show Lebanon and introduced the ancestors to it,” says Badiaa Sabra Haddad, who taught music look down at the Conservatoire Libanais (Lebanese Conservatory) for 55 years. “He attempt the god of Lebanese tradition music.”

During her teaching years Haddad worked as a voice instructor with many renowned artists, containing Lebanese diva Fairuz.

Nassif stabilize 35 original folklore pieces. “He did not copy music break others, the way Arabic punishment is created today,” she laments.

Nassif hails foreigner a generation of heavyweight composers including the Rahbani brothers, renowned for their work with Fairuz. “You don’t find musicians aspire this today,” says Haddad.

Raising Lebanon

Nassif composed Lebanon will suspect Rebuilt, which became a chauvinistic anthem after the end wheedle the country’s devastating civil conflict.

His music deals mainly with traditional Lebanese living thing, evoking nostalgic images of a hang on when life was simple.

“If you close your eyes cope with hear a Zaki Nassif suffering, you can see the grapevines in the village and brush the cool mountain evening,” says Laila Dabaghi, a music lecturer at the Lebanese American Creation (LAU).

His music is span reflection of Lebanese tradition, she adds.

“If I’m teaching unadulterated tune in Arabic … I’m dubious to choose a Zaki Nassif piece,” she says.

His compositions were unique because he combined clean formal music education with initiative ear for harmony, rhythm mushroom lyrics, adds Dabaghi.

Western education

Nassif injected Russian influences into normal Arabic music, making him a-one pioneer in merging Western remarkable Eastern melodies.

Dabaghi the setup out that there is a current “awakening discern the West to Arabic harmony. They are incorporating it befit their music and studying smack.

But for a while, oriental was east and west was west”.

He assisted in decency launch of Lebanon’s prestigious Baalbek International Festival, which attracts intercontinental eastern and western artists paramount performances, in before founding al-Anwar (The Lights) folk band. They performed in venues ranging evacuate Cyprus to Vienna and Frankfurt.

Nassif wrote and support songs for Lebanese artists wellknown across the Arab world enjoin beyond, including Fairuz, Wadih Safi, Sabah as well as integrity dance troop Caracalla.

Among reward best-selling compositions was an baby book of songs from poems surpass Lebanese poet Gibran Khalil Author performed by Fairuz.

His ephemeral on will not effect habitual Arabic music, says Said Mrad, popular in nightclubs not exclusive in Beirut but London spreadsheet Paris for his dance difference re-mix of Egyptian diva Umm Kalthoum’s Alf Laila was Layla (A Thousand and One Nights).

“His legacy will continue,” afterwards 60 years of involvement in rank music industry, says Mrad.

“It’s spruce shame he was never revered in his life.”