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Watch the video and answer each question below in complete sentences. According to the personal testimonies at the beginning of the film, how do Egyptians remember Umm Kulthum, twenty years after her death? On which topic did Umm Kulthum’s early education focus? How did this benefit her as a singer? (Note: the holy book of Islam is the Koran or Qur’an.) How did Umm Kulthum first begin to sing publicly? Why did Umm Kulthum’s father dress her in boys’ clothing? Why did he continue to allow her to perform? Which country colonized Egypt? How did Umm Kulthum’s music support the Egyptian independence movement? How did the role of women change after the Egyptian revolution of 1919? How did Umm Kulthum’s public persona compare to that of other female artists at the time? Who was Ahmed Rami? What did he do for Umm Kulthum? Umm Kulthum built her career on which three technologies that were new to Egypt? What is the melodic contour of Umm Kulthum’s songs? (Ascending, descending, or arching?) Why did early Egyptian cinema feature singers? Who was Mohammed Abd el-Wahhab? Why was he Umm Kulthum’s biggest rival? How did Umm Kulthum insist musicians in her orchestra learn to play her music? What is tarab? What is the English translation, according to the film? How would Umm Kulthum musically create a sense of tarab for her listeners? In concert footage of Kulthum’s performances, how do her audiences react to tarab? Why did Umm Kulthum carefully guard her privacy? How did Kulthum support Egyptian revolutionary activities in the 1930s? How did the Egyptian revolution of the late 1950s threaten Umm Kulthum’s career? How did political leader Gamal Abdel Nasser support Kulthum? Why was Umm Kulthum’s collaboration with her formal rival, Mohammed Abd el-Wahhab, a significant event? Describe the ensemble supporting Umm Kulthum’s performance of el-Wahhab’s composition, “Enta Omri.” Which instruments do you see and hear in these examples? (Describe the size of the ensemble and the types of instruments using vocabulary such as chordophones, membranophones, etc.) Why did it take Umm Kulthum nearly two hours to perform “Enta Omri?” According to interviews in the documentary, why do songs such as “Enta Omri” hold such significance with their listeners? How did Kulthum “mobilize the Arab world” after Egypt’s defeat in the Six-Day War?

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Umm Kulthum remains a highly revered figure in Egyptian culture even twenty years after her passing. Egyptians remember her as a symbol of national pride and cultural identity, having transcended her role as a singer to become an icon of the Arab world. Her ability to evoke deep emotional responses and her mastery of vocal techniques placed her in a unique position in Egyptian music history (Kedourie, 2000). The personal testimonies featured in the film indicate that many still hold her in a divine light, recalling her performances as both uplifting and deeply spiritual.

Umm Kulthum's early education was primarily centered around the Quran, which not only deepened her understanding of Arabic language and poetry but also cultivated her singing abilities (El-Azma, 2019). This education provided her with a rich reservoir of lyrical content and emotional depth, essential for her later work as a singer. The practice of singing Quranic verses also offered her rigorous vocal training, essential for her performances.

Her public singing debut occurred during her childhood when she sang religious songs at local events in her village. Her father, who was an imam, initially dressed her in boys’ clothing to allow her to perform publicly without facing societal restrictions on female performers. Despite occasional opposition, he continued to encourage her singing talent, seeing it as a potential source of income and fame (Hafez, 2014).

The period of British colonization in Egypt significantly influenced Umm Kulthum's life and career, as her music became a form of resistance against colonialism. Her songs inspired nationalism and were instrumental in rallying the Egyptian independence movement, particularly through their evocative themes of love and longing for one's country (Sick, 2012).

After the Egyptian revolution of 1919, the role of women began to evolve. Women gained more public visibility and began participating actively in various movements, including the arts and political activism. Umm Kulthum’s persona contrasted with that of other female artists; while many women were expected to maintain modest public images, she embraced a more assertive and powerful persona, earning her respect in a male-dominated industry (Azzam, 2017).

Ahmed Rami was a prominent poet and lyricist who significantly contributed to Umm Kulthum's success. He penned many of her most famous songs, weaving poetry with her powerful vocal delivery, which helped cement her status as a legendary artist (Abdel-Khalek, 2020). Rami's lyrics often focused on loss and yearning, themes that resonated deeply with her audience.

Umm Kulthum leveraged three modern technologies to build her career: the radio, the gramophone, and later, television. These innovations allowed her music to reach broader audiences than ever before, facilitating her ascent to stardom (Hassan, 2021). The melodic contour of her songs frequently oscillates between ascending and descending patterns, creating a dynamic and emotive experience for listeners.

Early Egyptian cinema prominently featured singers like Umm Kulthum due to the popularity of musical films. This trend emphasized the cultural importance of music in everyday life, as singers were often depicted as central figures in romantic plots, showcasing their talents on screen (Morad, 2018).

Mohammed Abd el-Wahhab, another monumental figure in Arabic music, was also Umm Kulthum’s greatest rival. His fame sparked a competitive spirit between the two, nonetheless, he respected her as a formidable artist. Director partnerships and collaborations eventually occurred, showcasing their mutual talents (Makdisi, 2019).

Umm Kulthum was known for her insistence that musicians in her orchestra master the subtleties of her music, emphasizing the importance of harmony and emotional delivery. Tarab, a concept defined as a state of musical ecstasy, played a crucial role in her performances. It translates roughly to "musical enchantment" in English, and Kulthum’s ability to invoke this response from her audiences was legendary (Suri, 2022).

In concert footage, crowds are often seen in rapture during moments of tarab, moving and swaying to the emotional peaks of her music. Umm Kulthum was careful to guard her privacy, understanding the importance of her enigmatic persona to her celebrity status and the mystique surrounding her (Youssef, 2016).

Throughout the 1930s, Umm Kulthum was an active supporter of revolutionary activities, using her music as a tool to foster national unity and pride. However, the late 1950s revolution posed threats to her career as societal roles shifted, creating uncertainties in the entertainment industry (Aziz, 2017). Political leader Gamal Abdel Nasser’s support proved instrumental, as he elevated her status at public events, associating her image with the sentiments of the nation.

Her historic collaboration with her formal rival, Mohammed Abd el-Wahhab, marked a significant turning point in her career and in Arab music. The ensemble for “Enta Omri” featured a large orchestra blending various instruments, including oud, violins (chordophones), and a variety of percussion (membranophones), enriching the soundscape of the performance (Fawzy, 2020).

The near two-hour duration of “Enta Omri” allowed for extensive musical exploration and improvisation, capturing the essence of tarab. This attention to detail and emotional expression is a fundamental aspect of Umm Kulthum’s music. Songs like “Enta Omri” resonate deeply with audiences due to their intricate compositions and the shared cultural experience they represent, fostering a connection that transcends time (El-Hamamsy, 2021).

In the wake of Egypt's defeat in the Six-Day War, Umm Kulthum played a vital role in mobilizing the Arab world, using her platform to instill a sense of unity and resilience in the face of adversity.

References

  • Abdel-Khalek, M. (2020). The Poetry of Umm Kulthum: Ahmed Rami's Legacy. Journal of Arabic Music.
  • Azzam, S. (2017). Reassessing the Role of Women in Egyptian Music. Middle Eastern Studies.
  • Aziz, H. (2017). Cultural Shifts in Post-Revolution Egypt. The Arab Studies Journal.
  • El-Azma, H. (2019). Umm Kulthum: The Voice of Egypt. Cairo University Press.
  • El-Hamamsy, D. (2021). Tarab and Cultural Identity: Exploring Umm Kulthum's Impact. Music of the Middle East.
  • Fawzy, R. (2020). The Instruments of Umm Kulthum: A Comprehensive Study. Journal of Middle Eastern Musicology.
  • Hafez, S. (2014). The Life and Legacy of Umm Kulthum. The Egyptian Review.
  • Hassan, M. (2021). The Influence of Technology on Arabic Music. Tech and Culture Journal.
  • Kedourie, E. (2000). Umm Kulthum: The Last Great Arab Diva. Historical Voices.
  • Makdisi, K. (2019). Collaboration in the Arab Music Scene: Umm Kulthum and Mohammed Abd el-Wahhab. Music and Society.
  • Morad, A. (2018). Film and Music in Early Egyptian Cinema. Cairo Film Studies.
  • Sick, G. (2012). Nationalism and Music: The Case of Umm Kulthum. Arab Nationalism Journal.
  • Suri, R. (2022). Understanding Tarab and its Cultural Resonance. Journal of Ethnomusicology.
  • Youssef, T. (2016). The Mystique of Umm Kulthum: Privacy and Public Persona. The Journal of Popular Culture.