Gamal Abdel-Rahim
Encyclopedia
Gamal Abdel-Rahim(b. Cairo
, 1924; d. Königstein
, Germany
, November 23, 1988) was an Egypt
ian classical music
composer, educator, and pianist. His best-known work is the symphony Osiris.
(then called Fuad I University), graduating with a degree in history. In 1950 he began university studies in musicology at the Musikhochschule of Heidelberg in West Germany
, deciding on a career as a composer. From 1952 to 1957 he studied composition with Harald Genzmer
(a pupil of Paul Hindemith
) at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg
.
In 1959, Abdel-Rahim was appointed to teach theory and harmony at the newly opened Cairo Conservatory of Music
. He was later appointed head of the composition department there (the first of its kind in the Arab world), which he founded in 1971. Abdel-Rahim was quite influential among Egyptian composers of the next generation, as the majority of them studied with him during his time at the Cairo Conservatory.
Abdel-Rahim's style fuses traditional Egyptian musical elements with contemporary European ones, focusing on Egyptian materials in his later works more than in his earlier ones. He composed many works for orchestra, chorus, and chamber ensembles, as well as songs and music for film, theater, and ballet. He was awarded the State Prize for Composition, as well as the Order of Arts, from the Egyptian government.
Abdel-Rahim was married to Samha El-Kholy
(1925-2006), a noted Egyptian musicologist and former president of the Academy of Arts in Cairo. Abdel-Rahim died in Frankfurt
, Germany
.
His notable students include Ahmed El-Saedi, Rageh Daoud
, Mona Ghoneim
, Khaled Shokry,, Sherif Mohie El Din
, Nader Abbasy, Ali Osman
, and Mohamed Abdelwahab Abdelfattah
.
- SUITE FOR ORCHESTRA,
Based on incidental music of the film: “Daily Life of Ancient Egyptians”, 1961.
.-SYMPHONIC VARIATIONS ON AN EGYPTIAN FOLKTUNE
Composer’s orchestration of the work for piano (see piano works), 1967.
-INTRODUCTION AND RONDO "BALADI".
For large orchestra from the violin sonata (see chamber music), 1969.
-PROCESSION OF AMOSIS,
From the musical: “MAWWAL (song) from EGYPT”, 1973.
-LITTLE SUITE FOR STRING ORCHESTRA
Expanded orchestral version of the “Five little pieces for piano”,
introducing Arab microtonal modes(with 3/4 tones in some movements, 1984.
-HEROIC DANCE
For flute and string orchestra.
- JUBILANT DANCE: “SAHBA”
For orchestra, also for chamber orchestra, 1983.
-’ SAMAÏ’:IN DJHARKAH-MODE BY SAFAR ALY,
Composer’s monodic setting for strings (with microtones).
-’MOUWACHAH’: “MONYATI” BY SAYED DARWISH,
In a monodic setting for flute and string orchestra, 1979.
*SOLO INSTRUMENTS AND ORCHESTRA
-THE LOTUS POND*,
For flute, oboe or violin and orchestra
(second movement of the flute concerto), 1973.
-ECHOES FOR FLUTE AND ORCHESTRA,
First movement of the flute concerto, 1984.
-RHAPSODY FOR CELLO AND ORCHESTRA,
Composer’s setting of the rhapsody for cello and piano, 1975.
-·FANTASY ON AN EGYPTIAN FOLKTUNE,
For violin and piano,1971 Revised and extended version with orchestra. 1973.
*CHORAL WORKS
a) A CAPELLA :
-SIX EGYPTIAN FOLK SONGS,
In polyphonic setting, for mixed choir.
-SIX CHILDREN'S SONGS,
In 2 and 3 parts, for children's choir.
-FIVE FOLK SONGS,
In 2, 3 and 4 parts, for children's choir.
-“ IBTIHAL”, (Invocation),
Religious (Islamic) chant for tenor and men's Choir with “Nay”,
text by Imam Zein El-Abideen, 1968
b) CHORAL WORKS WITH ORCHESTRA:
-"Al- SAHWAH ", (AWAKENING / ERWACHEN ),
Cantata for baritone, choir and orchestra.
poem by Salah Abdel- Sabour,
(also translated into German: by Jürgen Elsner) , 1966.
-SINAI EPIC,
Cantata for choir, children's choir and orchestra.
poem by Salah Abdel- Sabour, 1974.
-“EGYPTIAN ASPECTS” ,
Suite for choir and orchestra on folk songs :
"El- Henna", "Marmar Zamani", "El-Wad da malou , "Rawaa el-’ anani"
with traditional Nay and Qanun instruments, 1977.
-“KADNI’L HAWA”,
Cantata in a polyphonic setting,
on a traditional monodic "Dour" by Mohammad Osman,
for choir soloist and orchestra, 1978.
-”THE GOOD AND THE EVIL”,
A children's musical for soprano, tenor, and baritone / bass, with children's choir,
narrator and ballet, lyrics by Kamel Ayoub, 1981.
-“MONEY”,
Rhumba for bass, choir and orchestra, or piano, from the incidental music
to the TV film: “Eternal Apple”.
-"KAN YAMA KAN", (or Once upon a Time),
Known also as “THE RINGDOVE” from "Kalila Wa Demna",
for children's choir, narrator and orchestra.
Lyrics by Salah Jaheen, 1981
*VOCAL WORKS
-TWO SONGS FROM AISCHYLOS' " CHOIPHOREN ",
For mezzo-soprano, and orchestra, or piano, (Arabic translation by Louis Awad).
-TWO SONGS (LIEDER),
On poems by Abdel-Wahab El- Bayyati, for female voices and chamber orchestra or piano:
§ "Fire and words", (DAS FEUER UND DIE WORTE),
For soprano, (or tenor), and chamber orchestra or piano.
§ "The Happy Prince", (DER GLÜCKLICHE PRINZ)
For soprano, alto and chamber orchestra or piano. (Both translated into
(Both translated into German by Mokhtar Saleh).
-SONGS FROM THE CHILDREN'S MUSICAL, “ THE GOOD AND THE EVIL”
For voice and instrumental Ensemble, or piano, (see Children’s musical), 1981.
§ "Ana bint es-Sultan" (I am the Sultan’s Daughter!), for soprano.
§ "Nesma Rayha" (Soft breeze) for soprano also for soprano and harp.
§ "The song of the Evil man", for baritone.
§ "Bahlam ya Nour" (I have a dream, Nour) Duet for soprano and tenor.
* BALLETS
-”OSIRIS”
Pharaonic ballet in 3 scenes 1974, choreography, by Gundel Eplinius,
Hannonver 1978.
New full version, in five scenes. Choreography by Erminia and Abdel-
Moneim Kamel, Cairo 1983.
-" HASSAN AND NAïMA ",
Ballet in three scenes on an Egyptian folk story, for chamber ensemble,
Percussion and wind instruments including Egyptian folk percussion instruments: Riqq, Bandecr, Mazhar, and the w.w. instruments “Nay”and “Mozmar”,
(or flute and oboe),
Choreography by E. and A. Kamel.
* CHAMBER MUSIC
a) PIANO :
-FIVE LITTLE PIECES FOR PIANO, 1956.
-VARIATIOINS ON AN EGYPTIAN FOLKTUNE,**
-TO THE ARAB MARTYRS, 1974
b) STRINGS :
-SONATA FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO
(Dedicated to Samha),1959.
-MEDITATION FOR SOLO VIOLIN *
(Dedicated to his violinist daughter Basma), 1982.
-IMPROVISATION ON A PEDDLAR'S TUNE FOR CELLO SOLO *
(Dedicated to cellist son in- law Kamel Salah-Eldin) with microtones, 1981
-DUO FOR VIOLIN AND CELLO, *
In microtonal modes ( with microtones), 1982.
(Wedding present for Basma and Kamel).
-RHAPSODY FOR CELLO AND PIANO,
(See works for instruments and orchestra), 1975.
TRIO FOR VIOLIN, CELLO AND PIANO, *
In two movements, 1986.
-ELEGY FOR CELLO AND PIANO.
c) WIND :
-OCTET
For w.w., harp and strings.
-NONET
For wind instruments and harp, (from the Suite for orchestra).
-HEROIC DANCE,
For flute and harp, or flute and strings, (see works for instruments and orchestra).
-THE LOUTS POND *
For flute or oboe (also violin) and piano, 1977 (Dedicated to Samha).
-SOLILQUY, or "MONAGAH" FOR SOLO CLARINET with microtones (Dedicated to Mohamed Hamdy),1984,***
-PRISM LIGHTS FOR SOLO FLUTE
( a version of “Soliloquy”, with microtones),1987.
- ‘DANCE OF ISIS’ *
For flute, harp and percussion, 1987.
*INCIDENTAL MUSIC
a THEATRE AND RADIO:
-‘THE CHOIPHORES’.
Music for Aeschylos’ tragedy
-‘JERUSALEM’
Radio serial play, 1970.
-“MAWWAL” FROM EGYPT,
Incidental music and dances for the musical show, 1973.
b) CINEMA AND TV
-DAILY LIFE OF ANCIENT EGYPTAINS,
Documentary film, 1960.
-SCULPTOR ANWAR ABDEL-MAWLA
Documentary film,
-FIGURES FROM JERUSALEM,
For solo piano.
-THE ETERNAL APPLE,
TV Musical.
-’OSIRIS’
TV film (without commentary ), 1974.
- THE EGYPTAIN MUSEUM,
Documentary, 1985.
-“LA ILAHA ILLA ALLAH” or “AKHENATEN”
Music for the TV serial, in 30 installments, 1986.
*** published by Verlag neue Musik www.verlag-neue-musik.de ,Berlin 1996
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, 1924; d. Königstein
Königstein
The term Königstein can refer to several places in Germany and Namibia:Germany:* Königstein im Taunus, town in Hesse* Königstein, Saxony** Festung Königstein, castle near Königstein in Saxony* Königstein, Bavaria...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, November 23, 1988) was an Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
composer, educator, and pianist. His best-known work is the symphony Osiris.
Life and career
Abdel-Rahim was born in Cairo to a musical father, and began playing the piano at an early age. His early musical studies were supported by the Music Society of the Faculty of Arts of Cairo UniversityCairo University
Cairo University is a public university located in Giza, Egypt.The university was founded on December 21, 1908, as the result of an effort to establish a national center for educational thought...
(then called Fuad I University), graduating with a degree in history. In 1950 he began university studies in musicology at the Musikhochschule of Heidelberg in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, deciding on a career as a composer. From 1952 to 1957 he studied composition with Harald Genzmer
Harald Genzmer
Harald Genzmer was a German composer of contemporary classical music.-Biography:Born in Blumenthal, near Bremen, Germany, he studied composition with Paul Hindemith at the Berlin Hochschule für Music beginning in 1928.From 1938 he taught at the Volksmusikschule Berlin-Neukölln...
(a pupil of Paul Hindemith
Paul Hindemith
Paul Hindemith was a German composer, violist, violinist, teacher, music theorist and conductor.- Biography :Born in Hanau, near Frankfurt, Hindemith was taught the violin as a child...
) at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg
Hochschule für Musik Freiburg
The Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Freiburg is a public music academy subsidized by the State of Baden-Württemberg for academic research and artistic and pedagogical training in music.-History:The Hochschule was initially founded as a municipal institution in 1946 under the direction of Gustav...
.
In 1959, Abdel-Rahim was appointed to teach theory and harmony at the newly opened Cairo Conservatory of Music
Cairo Conservatoire
The Cairo Conservatoire is the primary music conservatory in Egypt. It was established in 1959 and is located in the same building complex as the Cinema Institute and the Higher Institute for Theatrical Arts, Haram, Giza, Greater Cairo, while the Cairo Symphony Orchestra is based at Cairo Opera...
. He was later appointed head of the composition department there (the first of its kind in the Arab world), which he founded in 1971. Abdel-Rahim was quite influential among Egyptian composers of the next generation, as the majority of them studied with him during his time at the Cairo Conservatory.
Abdel-Rahim's style fuses traditional Egyptian musical elements with contemporary European ones, focusing on Egyptian materials in his later works more than in his earlier ones. He composed many works for orchestra, chorus, and chamber ensembles, as well as songs and music for film, theater, and ballet. He was awarded the State Prize for Composition, as well as the Order of Arts, from the Egyptian government.
Abdel-Rahim was married to Samha El-Kholy
Samha El-Kholy
Samha Amin El-Kholy was a noted Egyptian musicologist. She published widely about the traditional music and contemporary music of Egypt, including several articles about contemporary Egyptian composers in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.She received her doctorate from the...
(1925-2006), a noted Egyptian musicologist and former president of the Academy of Arts in Cairo. Abdel-Rahim died in Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
His notable students include Ahmed El-Saedi, Rageh Daoud
Rageh Daoud
Rageh Samy Daoud is an Egyptian composer of contemporary classical music. He is a member of that nation's third generation of such composers....
, Mona Ghoneim
Mona Ghoneim
Mona Ghoneim is an Egyptian composer of contemporary classical music and pianist. She is a member of that nation's third generation of such composers....
, Khaled Shokry,, Sherif Mohie El Din
Sherif Mohie El Din
Sherif Mohie El Din is an Egyptian conductor and composer. He is a member of Egypt's third generation of composers.He was formerly the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Cairo Opera Orchestra...
, Nader Abbasy, Ali Osman
Ali Osman (composer)
Ali Osman is a Sudanese composer of contemporary classical music. He has lived in Egypt since 1978 and been active in Egypt's contemporary music scene. He also plays the guitar, drum kit, and double bass....
, and Mohamed Abdelwahab Abdelfattah
Mohamed Abdelwahab Abdelfattah
Mohamed Abdelwahab Abdelfattah is an Egyptian composer of contemporary classical music and educator. He is a member of Egypt's third generation of classical composers.-Biography:...
.
Compositions
*ORCHESTRAL- SUITE FOR ORCHESTRA,
Based on incidental music of the film: “Daily Life of Ancient Egyptians”, 1961.
.-SYMPHONIC VARIATIONS ON AN EGYPTIAN FOLKTUNE
Composer’s orchestration of the work for piano (see piano works), 1967.
-INTRODUCTION AND RONDO "BALADI".
For large orchestra from the violin sonata (see chamber music), 1969.
-PROCESSION OF AMOSIS,
From the musical: “MAWWAL (song) from EGYPT”, 1973.
-LITTLE SUITE FOR STRING ORCHESTRA
Expanded orchestral version of the “Five little pieces for piano”,
introducing Arab microtonal modes(with 3/4 tones in some movements, 1984.
-HEROIC DANCE
For flute and string orchestra.
- JUBILANT DANCE: “SAHBA”
For orchestra, also for chamber orchestra, 1983.
-’ SAMAÏ’:IN DJHARKAH-MODE BY SAFAR ALY,
Composer’s monodic setting for strings (with microtones).
-’MOUWACHAH’: “MONYATI” BY SAYED DARWISH,
In a monodic setting for flute and string orchestra, 1979.
*SOLO INSTRUMENTS AND ORCHESTRA
-THE LOTUS POND*,
For flute, oboe or violin and orchestra
(second movement of the flute concerto), 1973.
-ECHOES FOR FLUTE AND ORCHESTRA,
First movement of the flute concerto, 1984.
-RHAPSODY FOR CELLO AND ORCHESTRA,
Composer’s setting of the rhapsody for cello and piano, 1975.
-·FANTASY ON AN EGYPTIAN FOLKTUNE,
For violin and piano,1971 Revised and extended version with orchestra. 1973.
*CHORAL WORKS
a) A CAPELLA :
-SIX EGYPTIAN FOLK SONGS,
In polyphonic setting, for mixed choir.
-SIX CHILDREN'S SONGS,
In 2 and 3 parts, for children's choir.
-FIVE FOLK SONGS,
In 2, 3 and 4 parts, for children's choir.
-“ IBTIHAL”, (Invocation),
Religious (Islamic) chant for tenor and men's Choir with “Nay”,
text by Imam Zein El-Abideen, 1968
b) CHORAL WORKS WITH ORCHESTRA:
-"Al- SAHWAH ", (AWAKENING / ERWACHEN ),
Cantata for baritone, choir and orchestra.
poem by Salah Abdel- Sabour,
(also translated into German: by Jürgen Elsner) , 1966.
-SINAI EPIC,
Cantata for choir, children's choir and orchestra.
poem by Salah Abdel- Sabour, 1974.
-“EGYPTIAN ASPECTS” ,
Suite for choir and orchestra on folk songs :
"El- Henna", "Marmar Zamani", "El-Wad da malou , "Rawaa el-’ anani"
with traditional Nay and Qanun instruments, 1977.
-“KADNI’L HAWA”,
Cantata in a polyphonic setting,
on a traditional monodic "Dour" by Mohammad Osman,
for choir soloist and orchestra, 1978.
-”THE GOOD AND THE EVIL”,
A children's musical for soprano, tenor, and baritone / bass, with children's choir,
narrator and ballet, lyrics by Kamel Ayoub, 1981.
-“MONEY”,
Rhumba for bass, choir and orchestra, or piano, from the incidental music
to the TV film: “Eternal Apple”.
-"KAN YAMA KAN", (or Once upon a Time),
Known also as “THE RINGDOVE” from "Kalila Wa Demna",
for children's choir, narrator and orchestra.
Lyrics by Salah Jaheen, 1981
*VOCAL WORKS
-TWO SONGS FROM AISCHYLOS' " CHOIPHOREN ",
For mezzo-soprano, and orchestra, or piano, (Arabic translation by Louis Awad).
-TWO SONGS (LIEDER),
On poems by Abdel-Wahab El- Bayyati, for female voices and chamber orchestra or piano:
§ "Fire and words", (DAS FEUER UND DIE WORTE),
For soprano, (or tenor), and chamber orchestra or piano.
§ "The Happy Prince", (DER GLÜCKLICHE PRINZ)
For soprano, alto and chamber orchestra or piano. (Both translated into
(Both translated into German by Mokhtar Saleh).
-SONGS FROM THE CHILDREN'S MUSICAL, “ THE GOOD AND THE EVIL”
For voice and instrumental Ensemble, or piano, (see Children’s musical), 1981.
§ "Ana bint es-Sultan" (I am the Sultan’s Daughter!), for soprano.
§ "Nesma Rayha" (Soft breeze) for soprano also for soprano and harp.
§ "The song of the Evil man", for baritone.
§ "Bahlam ya Nour" (I have a dream, Nour) Duet for soprano and tenor.
* BALLETS
-”OSIRIS”
Pharaonic ballet in 3 scenes 1974, choreography, by Gundel Eplinius,
Hannonver 1978.
New full version, in five scenes. Choreography by Erminia and Abdel-
Moneim Kamel, Cairo 1983.
-" HASSAN AND NAïMA ",
Ballet in three scenes on an Egyptian folk story, for chamber ensemble,
Percussion and wind instruments including Egyptian folk percussion instruments: Riqq, Bandecr, Mazhar, and the w.w. instruments “Nay”and “Mozmar”,
(or flute and oboe),
Choreography by E. and A. Kamel.
* CHAMBER MUSIC
a) PIANO :
-FIVE LITTLE PIECES FOR PIANO, 1956.
-VARIATIOINS ON AN EGYPTIAN FOLKTUNE,**
-TO THE ARAB MARTYRS, 1974
b) STRINGS :
-SONATA FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO
(Dedicated to Samha),1959.
-MEDITATION FOR SOLO VIOLIN *
(Dedicated to his violinist daughter Basma), 1982.
-IMPROVISATION ON A PEDDLAR'S TUNE FOR CELLO SOLO *
(Dedicated to cellist son in- law Kamel Salah-Eldin) with microtones, 1981
-DUO FOR VIOLIN AND CELLO, *
In microtonal modes ( with microtones), 1982.
(Wedding present for Basma and Kamel).
-RHAPSODY FOR CELLO AND PIANO,
(See works for instruments and orchestra), 1975.
TRIO FOR VIOLIN, CELLO AND PIANO, *
In two movements, 1986.
-ELEGY FOR CELLO AND PIANO.
c) WIND :
-OCTET
For w.w., harp and strings.
-NONET
For wind instruments and harp, (from the Suite for orchestra).
-HEROIC DANCE,
For flute and harp, or flute and strings, (see works for instruments and orchestra).
-THE LOUTS POND *
For flute or oboe (also violin) and piano, 1977 (Dedicated to Samha).
-SOLILQUY, or "MONAGAH" FOR SOLO CLARINET with microtones (Dedicated to Mohamed Hamdy),1984,***
-PRISM LIGHTS FOR SOLO FLUTE
( a version of “Soliloquy”, with microtones),1987.
- ‘DANCE OF ISIS’ *
For flute, harp and percussion, 1987.
*INCIDENTAL MUSIC
a THEATRE AND RADIO:
-‘THE CHOIPHORES’.
Music for Aeschylos’ tragedy
-‘JERUSALEM’
Radio serial play, 1970.
-“MAWWAL” FROM EGYPT,
Incidental music and dances for the musical show, 1973.
b) CINEMA AND TV
-DAILY LIFE OF ANCIENT EGYPTAINS,
Documentary film, 1960.
-SCULPTOR ANWAR ABDEL-MAWLA
Documentary film,
-FIGURES FROM JERUSALEM,
For solo piano.
-THE ETERNAL APPLE,
TV Musical.
-’OSIRIS’
TV film (without commentary ), 1974.
- THE EGYPTAIN MUSEUM,
Documentary, 1985.
-“LA ILAHA ILLA ALLAH” or “AKHENATEN”
Music for the TV serial, in 30 installments, 1986.
- published by International Opus www.InternationalOpus.com
- Published by Doblinger www.doblinger-musikverlag.at ,1966
*** published by Verlag neue Musik www.verlag-neue-musik.de ,Berlin 1996