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Artist
Riyad Al Sunbati
12+ albums
arabicimprovisationoudegyptmaqam
about
Riyad Al Sunbati (1906 - 1981) (other spellings: Riyad al-Sunbati, Riyad El Sunbati) is a famous egyptian oud (arabic lute) virtuoso and is also well known as a composer of many great, popular arabic songs. In his youth he became widely known (thanks to his oud and singing skills) as the "The Canary of Mansoura". Most of his work has done with the legendary Oum Kalthoum which he firstly met in 1922. Riyad wrote his first song in 1928 and laterly he moved to al Kahira (Cairo), and started to work as an oud teacher in a music school. At the year 1936 he wrote one of the most famous and well knowed songs of Oum Kalthoum, which took part at the movie "Take Me to Your City My Love". Riyad gave a new breath in the music of that time, like the combination along of the singer and chorus, he also placed accordion in the chorus, the piano, the mandolin, and wrote and composed songs according to European tempo, like the rumba, bolero, waltz and tango. Riyad took the Arabic classical music to new peaks and levels, he gave a uniqe contribution and inspiration to millions of people all over the world with his taqsims on oud (improvisations in specific Mode, Maqam) and compositions. Riyad passed away in 1981 leaving behind him a great work. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.
