Sayed Darwish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sayed Darwish
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| Background information | |
| Native name |
السيد درويش البحر
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| Also known as | The Father of Modern Arab Music Father of Egyptian Popular Music |
| Born | 17 March 1892 |
| Origin | Alexandria, Egypt |
| Died | 15 September 1923 (aged 31) Alexandria, Egypt |
| Genres | Egyptian music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, record producer, musician |
| Instruments | Vocals, oud |
Sayed Darwish (Arabic: سيد درويش 17 March 1892 – 15 September 1923) was an Egyptian singer and composer. Many people call him the father of Egyptian popular music. He is also seen as one of Egypt's greatest musicians and composers.
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Early Life of Sayed Darwish
Sayed Darwish was born in Kôm el-Dikka, Alexandria, on March 17, 1892. His family did not have much money for his schooling. So, he went to a religious school instead. There, he became very good at reciting the Quran. He studied with a teacher named Muhammad Salamah.
After finishing religious school, he got the title Sheikh Sayyed Darwish. He then studied for two years at al-Azhar. This is one of the most famous religious universities in the world. But he left his studies to focus on music. He wanted to compose and sing.
He then joined a music school. His music teacher saw how talented he was. The teacher told Darwish to keep going with his music. At that time, Darwish also trained to be a munshid (a singer of religious songs). He worked as a bricklayer to help his family. One day, the manager of a theater group, the Syrian Attalah Brothers, heard him singing. The manager hired him right away.
While traveling in Syria, he learned more about music. But he did not become famous there. He came back to Egypt before World War I started. He slowly gained some fame by singing in cafes and on stages. He learned songs from famous composers of the 1800s. He also added his own musical styles and songs. Even though his music was clever, he was not very popular on stage. Other singers like Sâlih 'Abd al-Hayy were more famous then.
Sayed Darwish's Music Career
After many tries in cafes, Sayed Darwish decided to try something new in 1918. He chose to follow Shaykh Salama Higâzî, who was a pioneer in Arabic musical theater. Darwish moved to Cairo and started working with theater groups. He worked a lot with Nagîb al-Rîhanî's group. He wrote seven operettas for them.
Nagîb al-Rîhanî was a talented comedian. He created a funny character called Kish Kish Bey with writer Badî' Khayrî. Kish Kish Bey was a rich mayor who spent his money in Cairo. These operettas talked about social issues and the political situation in Egypt. This was during the time Egypt was under British rule. The 1919 revolution also inspired their plays. This made their operettas very popular. One famous one was "al-'Ashara al-Tayyiba" (The Ten of Diamonds, 1920). It was a patriotic version of "Bluebeard".
Sayyid also worked for 'Alî al-Kassâr's group, which was a rival to Rihânî's. He also worked with Munîra al-Mahdiyya, a famous singer and actress. He wrote funny operettas for her, like "kullaha yawmayn" ("All of two days", 1920). He also started an opera called "Cleopatra and Mark Anthony." This opera was performed in 1927.
In the early 1920s, all the theater companies wanted his help. He decided to start his own company. He even acted in the main role on stage. But his two plays, "Shahrazâd" and "al-Barûka" (1921), were not as successful. So, he had to go back to writing for other companies. He continued this until his early death in 1923.
Darwîsh's stage music often sounded like Western music. He used a European orchestra instead of traditional Arab instruments. His operetta songs often used musical styles that worked well with the piano. Some of his singing styles showed he was interested in Italian opera. The short, light songs from his funny plays are very interesting. Many of these songs are now part of Egyptian folk music. Songs like "Salma ya Salâma," "Zurûni koll-e sana marra," and "El helwa di qâmet te'gen" are known across the Middle East. Modern singers like Fayrûz and Sabâh Fakhrî have sung them.
Besides these light songs, Sayyid Darwîsh also wrote more complex music. He composed about twenty muwashshahât (Arabic poetic songs). These are often played by music schools today. His biggest contribution to learned music was his ten adwâr (long songs in everyday Arabic). Darwish was the first Egyptian composer to write down almost all the parts for the singer and musicians. Even the "ahât," which were usually improvised sighs, were composed by Darwîsh.
Sayyid Darwish's music was recorded by three companies. Mechian, a local company, recorded his voice from 1914 to 1920. Odeon, a German company, recorded many of his theater songs in 1922. Baidaphon recorded three of his adwâr around 1922. Many other companies also recorded his works sung by other artists.
Sayed Darwish's Musical Style
Darwish believed that true art should come from people's hopes and feelings. In his music, he showed what ordinary people wanted and felt. He also recorded important events of his time. He wrote about the strong national feeling against the British rulers. He also sang about people's passion and the need for fairness in society. He often criticized bad things in Egyptian society.
His music mixed Western instruments and harmony with classic Arab styles and Egyptian folk music. His songs became very popular because they were about social and patriotic topics. Darwish's many patriotic songs showed his strong connection to the national leaders. These leaders were fighting against the British. His music was loved by everyone, rich and poor alike.
In his musical plays, he combined catchy music with popular themes. Darwish helped free Arab music from its old, classical style. He made it more modern and opened the door for new developments.
He wrote 260 songs and 26 operettas. He changed the slow, old style of classical Arab music. He made it new, light, and full of feeling. Some of his most popular operettas were El Ashara'l Tayyiba, Shahrazad, and El-Barooka. These operettas sounded a lot like Egyptian folk music. They became very popular because they had social and patriotic messages.
He also composed 10 dawr and 21 muwashshat. These became classics in Arab music. His song "Bilaadi! Bilaadi!" (My Country! My Country!) became Egypt's national anthem. Many of his other works are still popular today in the Middle East.
Death of Sayed Darwish
Sayed Darwish died suddenly on September 10, 1923. He was only 31 years old. He is buried in the "Garden of the Immortals" in Alexandria, Egypt.
Sayed Darwish's Legacy
Even at 30 years old, Darwish was called the father of new Egyptian music. He was also seen as a hero for the rebirth of Arab music. His works keep his memory alive today. He believed that music was more than just entertainment. He thought it was a way to express human hopes. This gave meaning to life.
He is a legendary composer. Streets, statues, a special stamp, an Opera house, and a movie are named after him. He used his music to support the Egyptian and Arab struggle for freedom. In doing so, he made Arab music richer.
The Palestinian singer and music expert, Reem Kelani, studied Sayyid Darwish's role. She looked at his songs in her program for BBC Radio 4 called "Songs for Tahrir." This program was about her experiences with music during the uprising in Egypt in 2011.
Sayed Darwish's Compositions
Egyptian National Anthem
Darwish wrote the music for the Egyptian national anthem, "Bilady, Bilady, Bilady". The words were taken from a famous speech by Mustafa Kamil.
It is interesting that on the day Darwish died, the Egyptian leader Saad Zaghloul came back from exile. Egyptians sang Darwish's new song "Mesrona watanna Saaduha Amalna". This was another national song by Sayed Darwish. It was made to celebrate Saad's return.
Other Famous Songs
Here are some of his other well-known songs:
- Aho da elly sar
- Al-Lylh Yamktr Arsanha – "The Nights of Much Benevolence"
- Al-Shaytan – "The Devil"
- Aly Qd Al-Lyl – "To Have The Night"
- Aly Wrd Wfl – "To Ward Off"
- An Al-Awan M' Hayah Sabry – "That Time of Her Patience"
- An Sayed Darwish – "That Sayed Darwish"
- Ana Haweit – "I Fell In Love"
- Bent El Youm
- Bint Misr – "Egyptian Girl" (1919)
- Bokra ya benti
- El Hilwa – "The Beautiful One"
- Dy't Mustaqbal Hayaty – "The Future of My Life"
- Hagr Alya Baba – "Stone To Papa"
- Hw B'ynh M' Hyah Sbry – "The Proof of Her Patience"
- Khfyf Al-Rawh – "Cave of The Soul"
- Malo'ouna – "Doomed"
- Ma2oltelaksh in el kotra
- Qawm Ya Masry – "Rise you Egyptian"
- Salmh Yaslamh – "Peace Oh Peace"
- Shedd Al-Hezam – "Pull the Belt"
- Telaet ya mahla nourha - "she rises - o beautiful light"
- Ya Bahget El Rouh
- Ya ward ala foll we yasmmin
- Yashady Al-Alhan – "The Belting Singer"
- Zwrwny Kol Sana – "Visit Me Every year"
Memorials to Sayed Darwish
The Sayyid Darwish Theatre was named to honor him.
See also
In Spanish: Sayed Darwich para niños
