| Al Takht Al Arabi Ensemble at Al Owais Awards Ceremony |
 The Al Takht Al Arabi ensemble will be performing at the awards ceremony of the 11th session of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation Awards on the evening of Thursday, 11 March 2010 in the theater hall on the Foundation's premises in Al Rigga Road, Dubai.
The Al Owais Awards Ceremony this year coincides with the centenary of the birth of composer Mohamed Abdel Wahab (1897-1991). Many cultural institutions have planned events to revive the memory of one of the major innovators in contemporary Arabic music.
The Al Takht Al Arabi ensemble was established under the leadership of maestro Dr. Yasser Moawad in 1995. The ensemble is composed of some 37 musicians, instrumentalists and singers, and aims to preserve Arab musical heritage. The ensemble includes in its ranks a group of musicians who have contributed to the dissemination of Arabis music and singing by having been performed with legendary Arab singers: Umm Kulthum; Mohammed Abdel Wahab; Abdel Halim Hafez; Farid al-Atrash; Mohamed Kandeel; Abdel Aziz Mahmoud; and Mohammed Abd al-Muttalib.
The ensemble also performed with prominent Arab singers such as Sabah Fakhri; Safwan Bahlawan; Lotfi Bushnaq; Souad Mohammed; Scheherazade; Laure Dakash; and Mohamed El Ezaby. Additionally, Al Takht Al Arabi performed at numerous Arab and international events, and has received several awards and certificates of recognition from Kuwait; Bahrain; Oman; Jordan; Saudi Arabia; Libya; Greece; France; Russia; United Kingdom; Sweden; and Spain.
The musical concert at the Al Owais Ceremony will include several pieces composed by late musician Mohamed Abdel Wahab, including: Khatwat Habibi (My Beloved's Walk); Inta Omri (You are my Life); Sa'at Ma Ashoufak Gambi (When I see you near me); Darat Al Ayam (The Days have Passed); Al Fan (The Art); Fakarouni (They Reminded Me); Emta Al Zaman; Hei Hei; Al Naher Al Khalid (The Eternal River); Han Al Wid; Ya Misafer Wahdak (You Lonely Traveler); Aziza; Khayef Aqoul Illey fe Qalbi (I am afraid to say what is in my heart); Ahwak (I love you); Betlomony Leh (Why o you blame me): Ya Bagoer Qilli; Igri Igri (Run, Run); Innsa Al Dunia (Forget the world); Balash Tbosny Fi Eyny (Don't Kiss my Eyes); Al Qameh El Laila; Ashiq al Rouh (Lover of the Spirit); Bafakar Bili Nasini (I'm thinking of those who have forgotten me); and Laila Houb (A Night for Love).
Dr. Yasser Moawad
Yasser Moawad was born in a musical environment; his father Hussein Moawad was a lawyer who also played percussion in the bank accompanying singer Umm Kulthum. He was also the band director and accompanied the Diva during most of her concerts.
Moawad studied music at the Institute Conservatory; he went on to obtain a BA from the Higher Institute of Arabic Music, an MA from the same institute, Department of Musicology, and finally a PhD. from Switzerland in Musicology.
He is considered a leading percussionist in Egypt, mainly because he was the first Arab percussionist to play various Eastern percussion instruments such as al tableh, al daf, al riq, and al bungeez; the first percussionist who can read music and who played famous international music; and the first eastern percussionist in the Arab world to perform solo, as well as solo interludes with the symphony orchestra. He received several awards from various countries around the world such as Greece, France, and Tunisia.
He participated with the Egyptian television in the preparation and evaluation of a television series of 57 episodes focusing on teaching audiences to play various musical Eastern and Western instruments.
Moawad founded several the first percussion orchestra at the music festival in France in 1988, and he took this idea to the Folklore Festival in Ismailia in 2003 and 2004.
He also founded several other musical bands:
The Arab Eastern Percussionist Band.
The Religious Songs Band.
The Arab Classical Band. |
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