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Oum Kalthoum clip (or: how to listen to foreign language music)
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Posted by lerue (My Page) on Sun, Aug 13, 06 at 9:37
| This video clip is from one of the high points in "Al Atlal." I think watching an entire video of a lengthy Oum Kalthoum performance several years back helped me connect to what she was doing.
I don't know what she is singing, but every time she sings that drawn out "mmmmmmmmmm" and then comes in with a hard "b" I get a slight chill. (Actually, I have some vague idea of what she is singing, since the documentary A Voice Like Egypt has footage of another live performance of this song, with English captions. I think she's singing about how wonderful a past love was.)
But just like instrumental music: foreign language vocal music can be handled as an asbtract register and expression of emotions and energies.
Also, I think her stage personality is great. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Al Atlal excerpt on youtube
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Oum Kalthoum clip (or: how to listen to foreign language musi
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| Lerue, did you use to post here under a different name? It's just that I have only ever come across mentions of Oum Kalthoum once before, and that was on this forum too... Did you participate in the Tape around the World venture? |
RE: Oum Kalthoum clip (or: how to listen to foreign language musi
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| Yes and yes. :) Progress: now you get to see videos too. |
Farid
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| I also put something by this person on that tape: http://glyphs.gardenweb.com/forums/load/music/msg0517302516021.html?1 |
RE: Oum Kalthoum clip (or: how to listen to foreign language musi
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| Oh, I remember your contributions! The whole point was to get to hear something different, expand ones horizons - you certainly did that for us. [I was Kirsten back then, or possibly KGB; did the design for the tape cover] |
RE: Oum Kalthoum clip (or: how to listen to foreign language musi
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| I reminded myself of your name (I was think it began with a C, but then I checked your website link) but I had forgotten that you did that cover (which I thought was nicely done). |
RE: Oum Kalthoum clip (or: how to listen to foreign language musi
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Hi there, just wanted to share my thought about foreign languages and music. This June my daughter graduated high school and part of what she hoped for was cd's of Sarah Brightman, predominately her italian language ones, soundtrack cd's from Cirque di Soliel, and Rhythm and Roses which is mostly middle eastern and hypnotic and makes me think of long lines of camels and the desert and billowy stripped tents and incense. She also loves Celtic. She doesn't speak a foreign language and neither do I but we both believe that when we hear these voices, the lilting languages and the otherworld feeling of the music our blood runs faster, we have a lump in our throats and it is known to move us to teary eyes. We LOVE it. Years ago my father said, after listening to a recording of Poliacci(please forgive the spelling) by Caruso, 'He could be singing about a shepherd girl calling the sheep home and her aching feet for all I know, I don't care what it means. I just love it.' I know what he meant.
Kim |
RE: Oum Kalthoum clip (or: how to listen to foreign language musi
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RE: Oum Kalthoum clip (or: how to listen to foreign language musi
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I can understand the Arabic words, but the music and the metaphore behind these words is very deep. I play middle eastern music, and Oum kalthoum music is certainly unique.
I enjoy listenning to Flamenco singers, I don't understand them but the it is the international language of music, the deep expressions while they sing is very interesting. Bass |
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