8’30”
Arabic folk tunes – flexible quartet is a collection of four (4) Arabic famous folk tunes arranged for a flexible quartet, that can be performed by any type of ensembles (quartet, or bigger ensemble by doubling parts)
“A couple years ago, I was talking with a flute teacher friend of mine. She had a flute student who was best friends with one of my clarinet students. The four of us thought it would be fun to find a piece for the four of us to play. And this wound up being the perfect chance to program Wajdi Abou Diab’s “Arabic Folk Tunes for Flexible Quartet.”
Angela Salvaggione
Each of the four parts has plenty of musical interest, both melodically and rhythmically, and all parts are well within the technical capabilities of high school students. From an ensemble standpoint, attention to putting the parts together is paramount. Plenty of independent rhythms and counterpoint make for delightfully intricate music, accessible to all audiences.
I teach various woodwinds, so having flex-scored music is an added bonus for me. These pieces also, of course, work well with instruments in the same family. Knowing I have music I can use with a group of clarinet students, bassoon students, or my recorder ensemble allows many of my students and friends the opportunity to experience this very lovely suite.”
include scores and parts for the arrangement of these four famous Arabic songs:
Mahla Nourha – Sayed Darwich
A very popular song by the great Egyptian songwriter/singer Sayyed Darwich, in the Egyptian countryside language, describes the simple life in the Egyptian countryside, that’s starts with the shining sun and continues by bringing the milk from the cows and working in the field. Then meet the loved one near the river and flirt together
Rozana – Palestinian Folk
The ship called “Rosanna” is an Italian ship that Italy sent to Lebanon and Syria at the time of the great famine in 1914, loaded with wheat. But when it arrived, it turned out that it was loaded with grapes and apples, which disappointed the Lebanese and the Syrians. Despite this, the people of Aleppo secured the necessary wheat for the Lebanese, to save them from starvation.
Zourouni – Egyptian Folk
An old Egyptian folk tune, with a very catchy melody. Almost every Arabic singer since Sayed Darwich till now made his cover for this song! Starts with an invitation to visit the singer, even once every year, which speaks of how difficult for him to be forgotten, then expresses his fear about feeling the longing.
Yal Rayeh – Algerian Folk
A world-famous Algerian folk song was written and sung by the Algerian popular singer Dahmane El Harrachi. The song tells about the suffering of immigrants in estranging homes from marginalization, exclusion, and longing to return to the homeland, and it contains advice for the immigrant to invite him to return to the motherland as migration to foreign homes is not considered a healthy or natural solution for Arab immigrants
wajdiaboudiab.com 