JORDAN: Syrian singer, Waed Bouhassoun, performs in Amman with messages of peace and love for her country

Record ID: 276562

  • Title: JORDAN: Syrian singer, Waed Bouhassoun, performs in Amman with messages of peace and love for her country
  • Date: 26th January 2014
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN ARTIST, WAED BOUHASSOUN, SAYING: "I read about the life of Jalaludin Rumi, and his words fascinated me, so I presented two of his poems which I found deep and moving. After that we also performed poems by Rabia AlAdawiya in the Raseel Opera. I also wanted to perform love poems, so we sang O Leila, and Mustakfi and Ibn Zaydoun poems."
  • Embargoed: 10th February 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Jordan
  • Country: Jordan
  • Reuters ID: LVA7TGWN17WLSMGAZPE07MQ4K2DK
  • Story Text: Syrian singer and Oud player, Waed Bouhassoun, performed songs of love and spirituality during a unique music festival held in Jordan.
    The Festival of Sacred Music, organized by the Institut Fran�is de Jordanie, brings together six different acts from four countries, for a total of 11 performances held in Amman, Zarqa and Madaba.
    Bouhassoun, who has a degree in ethno-musicology, says she's always been attracted to more spiritual music and poetry.

    "I read about the life of Jalaludin Rumi, and his words fascinated me, so I presented two of his poems which I found deep and moving. After that we also performed poems by Rabia AlAdawiya in the Raseel Opera. I also wanted to perform love poems, so we sang O Leila, and Mustakfi and Ibn Zaydoun poems." said the musician.
    Bouhassoun started her musical career in Aleppo at a young age. Since then she has performed in countless festivals and concerts around the world, including the House of World cultures event in Paris in 2006.
    During her performance in Amman, Bouhassoun captivated audiences with her beautiful voice, performing poetry by famous spiritual poets including Rumi, Ibn Zaydoun and Walladah bint Mstakfi.
    Bouhassoun also expressed sadness about the conflict tearing her homeland apart, saying that all music has ceased in Aleppo.

    "What is happening now will certainly have a negative effect, especially in Aleppo. The people of Aleppo have music in their blood, and the traditional music which they pass on from generation to the next is not passed on in writing, but through musical nights held every Thursday. I have participated in such sessions, and they sing music for enjoyment, as well as to preserve this culture for future generations. But now all music has stopped in Aleppo," she said.
    Syria's uprising against four decades of rule by the family of President Bashar al-Assad has turned into an increasingly sectarian civil war that has killed over than 100,000 people, displaced 6.5 million inside Syria and forced 2.2 million more to find sanctuary outside its borders.
    The festival which is now in its third year also had performances from the Whirling Dervishes of Konya and the Sagittarius and Perspectives from France, a group that interprets Baroque music from France and Germany.
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