Stars & Stories " Um Kalthoum"

Summary

Umm Kulthum, born on December 30, 1898, and passed away on February 3, 1975, is celebrated as the greatest Arabic singer in history. With a humble beginning in the Nile Delta, she showcased exceptional talent from a young age. Her rise to fame was marked by collaborations with renowned poets and composers, and her emotive performances captivated audiences. Despite competition, her unique vocal control and impact set her apart. Umm Kulthum's legacy endures through her timeless songs about love and loss, and her influence on Arabic music is unparalleled.

Takeaways

• 🎤 Umm Kulthum was born on December 30, 1898, and is considered the greatest Arabic singer in history.
• 👨‍👧 Her father played a significant role in her early musical education, teaching her to recite the Quran and disguising her as a boy to join a performing troupe.
• 🎼 At the age of 16, she was discovered by Mohammed Abu Laila, who taught her the old classical Arab repertoire.
• 📍 She moved to Cairo in 1923, where she was introduced to cultural circles and maintained her conservative values.
• 💡 Umm Kulthum's career was significantly influenced by her collaboration with the poet Hamid Al-Rumi, who wrote 137 songs for her.
• 🎬 She gained fame through musical movies and live broadcasting of her concerts, which were held on the first Thursday of each month.
• 🎵 Her songs often dealt with universal themes of love, longing, and loss, which resonated with a wide audience.
• 🏆 Umm Kulthum faced competition from other prominent singers but stood out due to her exceptional vocal control and emotive impact.
• 🎼 She collaborated with various composers, including Mohammed El As'ad, who introduced her to the Arabic theatre and helped establish her public success.
• 📚 Umm Kulthum was introduced to French literature and Arabic literature, which greatly influenced her artistic development.
• 🕊️ Her funeral procession in 1975 was a national event, with millions of Egyptians paying their respects to her legacy.

Q & A

Who is the subject of the transcript?

The subject of the transcript is Umm Kulthum, a renowned Arabic singer.

When was Umm Kulthum born and when did she die?

Umm Kulthum was born on the 30th of December, 1898, and she died on the 3rd of February, 1975.

What was Umm Kulthum's early life like?

Umm Kulthum was born in the village of El-Senbellawein in the city of Tanta, in the Gharbia Governorate of the Nile Delta. She showed exceptional singing talent at a young age and was taught to recite the Quran by her father.

How did Umm Kulthum's musical education begin?

Her father, who was also her first teacher, disguised her as a boy and joined her to a small performing troupe that he directed. At the age of 16, she was noticed by Mohammed Abu Laila, a modestly famous singer who taught her the old classical Arab repertoire.

Who was the famous composer that invited Umm Kulthum to Cairo?

The famous composer who invited Umm Kulthum to Cairo was Zechariah Emmett.

What significant event happened in Umm Kulthum's career in 1932?

In 1932, Umm Kulthum experienced her first real public success at the Arabic Theatre Palace, which marked a turning point in her career.

How did Umm Kulthum's fame grow in the 1930s?

Umm Kulthum's fame grew through the sales of her records and her appearances in musical movies, as well as the live broadcasting of her concerts performed on the first Thursday of each month from October to June.

What was unique about Umm Kulthum's singing style?

Umm Kulthum had exceptional control over her voice and an emotive vocal impact, which attracted many composers, musicians, and lyricists to work with her.

Who were the two prominent singers that Umm Kulthum faced competition from during her early career?

Umm Kulthum faced competition from two prominent singers, Munille Medea and Fat Haman, who had similar voices.

What was the significance of the religious poem Umm Kulthum presented in 1946?

The religious poem presented by Umm Kulthum in 1946, written by Hammacher II and composed by somebody, was a success that reconnected her with her early singing years and defined somebody's unique style in composing.

What is considered by many as Umm Kulthum's best song?

The song 'Oh, Oh Brahim Naga spawn a lot lon the ruins,' composed by Some Botti and premiered in 1966, is considered by many as Umm Kulthum's best song.

What was the impact of Umm Kulthum's death on Egypt?

Umm Kulthum's death on February 3rd, 1975, at the age of 76, led to a national event with around 4 million grief-stricken Egyptians lining the streets to bid her farewell.

Outlines

00:00

🎤 The Rise of a Legendary Singer

The script introduces Umm Kulthum, a renowned Arabic singer born on December 30, 1898, and who passed away on February 3, 1975. Known as the 'Star of the East,' she is celebrated as the greatest Arabic singer in history. The paragraph details her early life in the village of El-Daqahliyah, her exceptional singing talent, and her journey from reciting the Quran at the local mosque to joining a performing troupe. Her mentorship under Mohammed Abu Laila and the famous composer and poet, Zechariah Emmett, is highlighted, along with her introduction to cultural circles in Cairo and her conservative values. The paragraph also mentions her collaboration with the poet Hamid Rami and her exposure to French literature, which influenced her artistic development.

05:02

🌐 Umm Kulthum's Path to Stardom

This paragraph discusses Umm Kulthum's rise to fame, starting with her record sales in 1932 that led to a major Middle East tour, including performances in Damascus, Beirut, Tunisia, and Tripoli. It outlines the factors contributing to her fame, such as her exceptional vocal control and emotive impact, which attracted composers and musicians. The paragraph also covers her radio debut in 1934 and the initiatives that cemented her status as a popular Arab singer, including her appearances in musical movies and the live broadcasting of her concerts. The themes of her songs, mainly love, longing, and loss, are mentioned, along with her reliance on a younger composer who influenced her music's direction and appeal to the Egyptian audience.

10:12

🎼 The Artistic Collaborations of Umm Kulthum

The script describes Umm Kulthum's collaborations with various composers and poets, which contributed to her unique musical style. In 1932, she presented a religious poem in classical Arabic, composed by someone, which was a success and reconnected her to her early singing years. The paragraph also highlights her work with composer Muhammad Abdul Wahhab, starting with a song in thumri, considered a summit meeting in her career. Additionally, the paragraph mentions her work with other composers like Muhammad el-Mahdi, Sayyid McCurry, and Balhamdi, emphasizing her energy and the natural talent that characterized her performances.

15:24

🕊️ The Legacy and Farewell of Umm Kulthum

The final paragraph recounts Umm Kulthum's death on February 3, 1975, at the age of 76. Her funeral procession was a national event, with approximately 4 million Egyptians mourning her loss and paying their respects. This paragraph underscores her enduring legacy as a legendary figure in Arabic music and the deep impact she had on her fans and the nation.

Keywords

💡Umm Kulthum

Umm Kulthum is a central figure in the script, representing the greatest Arabic singer in history. She is known as 'the star of the East' and her influence has endured for decades after her death. The script describes her journey from a young talent in a small village to becoming a cultural icon in Cairo, Egypt.

💡Quran

The Quran is the holy book of Islam, and in the script, it is mentioned that Umm Kulthum's father taught her to recite it at the local mosque. It is said that she memorized the entire book by the age of 12, which demonstrates her early immersion in religious and cultural practices that likely influenced her music.

💡Mohammed Abu Laila

Mohammed Abu Laila is a modestly famous singer who recognized Umm Kulthum's talent and taught her the old classical Arab repertoire. His role in her early career is significant as it helped shape her musical foundation and contributed to her development as a singer.

💡Composer

The script mentions several composers, such as Zechariah Emmett and Mohammed El As'ad, who played a crucial role in Umm Kulthum's career by composing music for her. Composers were essential in creating the melodies and arrangements that complemented her emotive vocal style and contributed to her success.

💡Cairo

Cairo is the capital of Egypt and the city where Umm Kulthum moved to permanently in 1923. It is the cultural center where she gained fame and met influential figures in the arts. The script highlights her appearances in Cairo's cultural circles and her performances in the Arabic theatre.

💡Hamid Al-Rumaihi

Hamid Al-Rumaihi is a famous poet who wrote 137 songs for Umm Kulthum. His contribution to her repertoire is significant, as it enriched her musical expression and helped her connect with a wider audience through the themes of love, longing, and loss.

💡Musical Movies

The script refers to Umm Kulthum's appearances in musical movies as one of the factors that sealed her fate as the most popular and famous Arab singer. These movies expanded her reach and allowed her to captivate audiences with her performances on screen.

💡Live Broadcasting

Live broadcasting of Umm Kulthum's concerts, as mentioned in the script, was another initiative that contributed to her fame. It allowed her to perform in front of a wider audience and created a sense of immediacy and intimacy with her listeners.

💡Competition

The script mentions that Umm Kulthum faced competition from other prominent singers like Munir Medea and Farid Al-Atrash. However, her exceptional control over her voice and emotive vocal impact set her apart and attracted composers, musicians, and lyricists to work with her.

💡Classical Arabic

Classical Arabic is the formal version of the Arabic language used in literature, formal speech, and religious texts. The script highlights Umm Kulthum's ability to present religious poems in classical Arabic, which reconnected her with her early singing years and showcased her versatility as an artist.

💡Funeral Procession

Umm Kulthum's death and the subsequent funeral procession are mentioned in the script as a national event, with around 4 million Egyptians lining the streets to bid her farewell. This demonstrates the profound impact she had on the people and the cultural significance of her life and work.

Highlights

Adel built a key on the 30th of December, 1898 and died on the 3rd of February, 1975.

She is widely regarded as the greatest Arabic singer in history.

She showed exceptional singing talent at a young age.

Her father taught her to recite the Quran, and she memorized the entire book at the age of 12.

At 16, she was noticed by Mohammed Abu Laila, who taught her the old classical Arab repertoire.

She moved to Cairo in 1923 after several visits in the early 1920s.

Amin Be Ill Melody introduced her to cultural circles in Cairo.

She was introduced to famous poet Hamid Romney, who wrote 137 songs for her.

Rami introduced her to French literature, greatly influencing her Arabic literature studies.

She gained public success in the Arabic theatre palace in 1932.

Her fame increased through record sales and a major tour of the Middle East in the early 1930s.

Her emotive vocal impact attracted many composers and lyricists.

In 1934, she sang for the inaugural broadcast of Rage acara, the state station.

Her live concerts were broadcasted on the first Thursday of each month from October to June.

In 1946, she performed a religious poem in classical Arabic, achieving immediate success.

Her peak career involved significant collaboration with composers like Muhammad Abdul Wahhab and others.

Her funeral procession in 1975 became a national event with around 4 million Egyptians attending.

Transcripts

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