Mohammad Abdilwahhab

 

Mohammed Abdilwahhab with a cümbüş

 

Mohammad Abdilwahhab (Arabic: محمد عبد الوهاب), also transliterated Mohammad Abdilwahhab (1907 - May 3, 1991) was a prominent 20th century Egyptian singer and composer. Born in Bab El-Sheriyah area of Cairo, Egypt (Where his statue stands), Abdilwahhab played Oud before the Prince of Poets, Ahmed Shawqi. Abdilwahhab acted in several movies. He composed 10 songs for Um Kalthoum (أم كلثوم). He was the first Egyptian singer to move from silent-era acting and move to singing. He died in 1991, and is still considered one of the five greats of Arabic music, along with Umm Kalthoum, Fareed Al Atrach, Fairouz, and Abdel Haleem Hafez

Contents

•             1 His works

o             1.1 Films
o             1.2 Songs
o             1.3 Themes

•             2 Legacy

His works

Films

•             Al Warda Al Baydaa (The White Rose).
•             Mamnoua Al Hob (Love is Forbidden).
•             Youm Saaed (A Happy Day).
•             Rossassa Fe Al Qalb (A Bullet to the Heart).
•             Lasto Mlakan (I am not an Angel).
•             Domoo' El Hobb (Tears of Love).
•             Yahia Al Hobb (Viva Love!).
•             Ghazal Al Banat as himself (1949)

Songs

 

Egyptian singer & composer Mohammad Abdilwahhab
 Statue at Bab El-Sharyia square, Cairo

This is by no means exhaustive. Title translation given only where appropriate.

•             Majnoon Layla. (Crazy about Layla)
•             Al Qamh (The Wheat)
•             Kilobatra (Cleopatra).
•             Algondool (La Gondola).
•             Al Neel (The Nile).
•             Al Nahr Al Khalid (The Immortal River).
•             Dijla (The River Tigress).

•             Makadeeru Min Jafnayki (Love poem by prominent 9th Century Iraqi Poet Safayuldeen Al Hilli).
•             Al Fan (The Fine Arts).
•             Ya Waboor (The Train).
•             Indama Ya'ti Almasaa. (When The Evening Comes).
•             A'shik Al Rooh (The Platonic Lover).
•             Balak Ma'a Meen.
•             Balash Tiboosni.(Don't Kiss Me)
•             La Takthibi.(Don't Lie)
•             Al Siba Wal Jamal (Love poem by prominent 20th century Egyptian Poet Ahmed Shawqi).
•             Jafnuho Allama Alghazal (Love poem by prominent 20th century Lebanese Poet Bishara Alkhouri).
•             Illeel Lama Khili.
•             Bileel Ya Roohi.
•             Sa'it Mabasoofak Ganbi.
•             Ooli Aamallak Eeh Albi. (Tell Me What My Heart Did To You)
•             Hamsa Ha'rah.
•             Hakeem Uyoon.
•             Amana Ya Leel.
•             Fil Bahr. (In the Sea)
•             Ana Wil Athaab We Hawak.(Me, Torture, and Loving You)
•             Ya Missafir Wahdak. (Oh Lonely Traveler)

Themes

Besides having composed the themes to all but one of his wealthy collection of songs, he contributed musical works for almost all prominent singers in the Arab World, including Um Kulthoum, Abdulhaleem Hafidh, Layla Murad, Faiza Ahmed, Asmahan, Fairouz, Warda, Mayyada Al Hinnawi to name but a few.

In addition to the songs, he composed a number of famous musical pieces, among those are:

•             Alwan (Colours)
•             Loughet El Guitar (Guitar's Language)
•             Farha (Happiness)
•             Hobby (My Love)
•             Aziza (Aziza)
•             Amar 14 (Full Moon)
•             Fekra (An Idea)

It is widely accepted in circles of Arabic music that his talent is yet to be repeated.

Legacy

•             His personal belongings were put in his museum in the Music institute in Cairo.
•             A Statue was erected in Bab El-Sheriya square (where he grew up) to keep his memory.