JORDAN: The highly-popular Syrian group "Salateen al-Tarab" performs classical Arabic music as the part of the Jerash Festival

Record ID: 276199

  • Title: JORDAN: The highly-popular Syrian group "Salateen al-Tarab" performs classical Arabic music as the part of the Jerash Festival
  • Date: 9th August 2011
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LEAD SINGER OF SYRIAN BAND "SALATEEN AL-TARAB", MOHAMMAD KHAIRY, SAYING: "These songs came to us on a golden platter as youths, because there were those who created them, in Aleppo 50 to 75 years ago, I'm giving you the age of Sabah Fakhri, who developed this heritage and set it up and gave it to us on a plate of gold, so our duty as a younger generati
  • Embargoed: 24th August 2011 13:00
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  • Location: Jordan, Jordan
  • Country: Jordan
  • Topics: Arts
  • Reuters ID: LVARVYVUN890L1AMFQM8V1X4VFL
  • Story Text: As part of its special Ramadan evenings in Amman, the Jerash Festival presented Syrian group "Salateen al-Tarab" in their first appearance at a regional festival to perform classical Arabic songs and old favourites by Syrian music masters, specifically from the city of Aleppo.
    The lead singer of the band said the songs come from Syrian tradition and they should be honoured.
    "These songs came to us on a golden platter as youths, because there were those who created them, in Aleppo 50 to 75 years ago, I'm giving you the age of Sabah Fakhri, who developed this heritage and set it up and gave it to us on a plate of gold, so our duty as a younger generation is to preserve it and perform it well. In my own opinion it's OK if we develop this heritage while maintaining its core elements," said Mohammad Khairy.
    Khairy said there are not enough musicians in the Arab world today who honour the old classics, which motivated the group that was formed around six months ago.
    One of the group's main influences is the iconic traditional Arabic singer Sabah Fakhri, who is himself from Aleppo in Syria, well-known for his strong voice and performance of authentic Arabic Tarab.
    The group's concert in Amman drew a diverse audience, both young and old, who clapped and hummed along as Khairy and his colleagues sang favourites by Sabah Fakhri.
    The annual Jerash Festival showcases a variety of performances this year, drawing audiences from all over neighbouring countries to watch the concerts.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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