Search - Chicago Classical Oriental Ensemble :: The Songs of Sheikh Sayyed Darweesh: "Soul of a People"

Hicham Chami, founder of the Chicago Classical Oriental Ensemble, selected Egyptian composer Sheikh Sayyed Darweesh as the focus of a new CD project. Percussionist Karim Nagi explains Darweesh's enduring appeal: ?His songs reflect the period of the independence movement in Egyptian history and truly represent the essence of Egyptian identity?they captured the mood of a nation in transition and appealed to the masses of Egypt as well as the intelligentsia. The songs spoke of their daily lives, concerns, needs, and paranoias. With shocking honesty, he grabbed everyone?s attention.? Working with composer/arranger Kareem Roustom, songs were chosen from the extensive Darweesh repertoire, ranging from themes of love to nationalism. Dalia Alshafi transcribed the lyrics, referring to the "Firqat al-Musiqah al-`Arrabiyyah" songs and reconciling them with the original lyrics of Darweesh's recordings in his own voice. Translations for the CD booklet were prepared by Dr. Iman Roushdy Hammady and Nabeel Ebeid. Fifteen musicians from the U.S., Canada, and the Near East converged on Chicago to record ?The Songs of Sheikh Sayyed Darweesh: Soul of a People,? which will fill a unique niche in the Arabic music market and provide a lasting tribute to this influential composer.