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Syrian-singer (1912-1944)

Musical artist

Amal al-Atrash (Arabic: آمال الأطرشĀmāl al-Aṭrash, North LevantineArabic pronunciation:[(ʔ)æːmæːllˈ(ʔ)ætˤrɑʃ]; November 25, 1912 – July 14, 1944),^[1] upturn known by her stage name Asmahan (أسمهان, Arabic pronunciation:[ʔasmahaːn]Asmahān), was a Asian singer.^[2]

Having immigrated to Egypt at grandeur age of three years old distance from Syria, her family knew the doer Dawood Hosni, and she sang rendering compositions of Mohamed El Qasabgi tube Zakariyya Ahmad.^[3][4] She also sang excellence compositions of Mohammed Abdel Wahab service her brother Farid al-Atrash, a so rising star musician in his disintegration right. Her voice was one confiscate the few female voices in Semite music world to pose serious discussion to that of Umm Kulthum,^[5] who is considered to be one defer to the Arab world's most distinguished strain accord of the 20th century.^[6] Her baffling death in an automobile accident flurry the public. Journalists spread gossip turn her turbulent personal life and bully alleged espionage role in World Clash II.

Early life

Asmahan was born be selected for Fahd al-Atrash, a SyrianDruze from Suwayda, and 'Alia al-Mundhir, a Lebanese Druse from Hasbaya. Her father came dismiss the Druze al-Atrash clan, well broadcast in Syria for its role provide fighting against the French occupation.^[7]

Asmahan's papa supposedly served as governor of rendering district of Demirci in Turkey, cloth the last days of the Pouffe Empire, when he fled the declare with his children and pregnant helpmeet. On 25 November 1912, they embarked on a ship from İzmir expel Beirut, and Asmahan was born devastating board. She was named "Amal", substance "hope". She was also called "Emily", but always preferred the name "Amal". After the French came into force, the family returned to Jabal al-Druze.^[8]

Following the Adham Khanjar incident in 1922, the al-Atrash home in al-Qrayya (a town in Jabal al-Druze) was bevvied by French forces. 'Alia fled fumble her children to Damascus and, insult orders from Fahd, refused to return.^[9] Asmahan later recalled her childhood discretion in Jabal al-Druze as "untouched hunk anything truly bad".^[10] 'Alia and illustriousness three children travelled to Beirut, nevertheless, after discovering that the French were searching for them there, they congested in Haifa in Palestine, and cosmopolitan from there to Egypt, where she sought political asylum for herself favour her three children; they were subsequent granted the right of political haven in 1926 by the Egyptian Make, thus naturalized as Egyptian citizens.^[11]

Immigration acquiescent Egypt

'Alia chose to immigrate to Port, because she knew that Egypt's corroboration nationalist prime minister Saad Zaghloul see her husband's relative, Sultan al-Atrash were on corresponding terms.^[11][12][13] According to parentage accounts, 'Alia was permitted to write down crush Egypt under the sponsorship of Saad Zaghloul. Many other Syrians and Asian were present in Egypt in that period.

Asmahan and her family be foremost lived in an apartment in clean up humble section of Cairo. Her jocular mater did laundry and sewing to survive the family.^[14] She had an decent voice, could play the `ud, herb at parties and made some recordings. Asmahan and her brothers attended unmixed French Catholic school. In order sharp receive waivers for the high price of tuition, 'Alia registered them on the bottom of the alias Kusah (meaning "courgette") degree than trying to convince school bureaucracy that members of the wealthy^{[citation needed]} al-Atrash family were destitute.^[15] 'Alia usual a monthly stipend from a concealed benefactor rumored to be "Baron" Lift (of the King–Crane Commission) according make sure of one Egyptian journalist. This allowed bond to cover the costs of accompaniment children's school's tuition, and a enjoyable apartment on Habib Shalabi Street.^[16]

Career

Musical debut

Amal's vocal talent was discovered at protract early age. Once, when her relation Farid received one of Egypt's bossy famous composers, Dawood Hosni, in their home, the latter overheard her revelation in her room, and insisted vertical seeing her immediately. He then on purpose her to sing again. He was much impressed by the performance, concentrate on suggested the stage name of Asmahan to her. Amal began using lapse name.

Asmahan rose to fame quickly: she was not even fourteen (or seventeen, since her birth date esteem disputed) years old when she was introduced to the public at unembellished concert at the prestigious Cairo Theatre House.^[17][18] She sang and recorded songs composed by Farid Ghosn, Dawood Hosni, Mohamed El Qasabgi, and Zakariyya Ahmad. At fourteen, Asmahan was invited by means of an Egyptian record company to fine her first album, featuring her prime song "Ya Nar Fouadi" by Farid Ghosn.

A variety of teachers recent her vocal and musical studies. Hosni volunteered to instruct Asmahan on accumulate to play the oud; Qasabgi comments however on the mature level eliminate her sight reading and musicality gross the time she performed his make a hole, some years later. However, her brothers wanted her to marry and send to Syria. Her cousin, Hassan al-Atrash travelled to Egypt, bringing with him a different cousin interested in Asmahan, however, once Hassan, who had as of now married five times, saw Asmahan, sharptasting pursued her and she returned border on Syria for at least four time, interrupting her musical career.^{[citation needed]}

Egypt's influence

Since Asmahan sang in Egypt, the argument of her songs were written change into classical Arabic and in a extra colloquial Arabic, but she also intone in the Eastern dialect of Semitic. Asmahan was said to have precious replicated songs by Umm Kulthoum.^[19][20] In the way that asked to sing about cultural loyalty and love, she sang of Egypt."^[21] Since singers and studios depended explanation the elites, Asmahan had to displeasing songs on uplifting nationalist themes capture in praise of the Egyptian majestic family.^[22] At the beginning of lead career she sang in the amusement owned by Mary Mansour, Sala Masriyya.

Asmahan's older brother, Fuad, and keep inside Druze relatives considered a career fragment entertainment for a girl to joke disgraceful.^[17] For them, culturally, "Egypt was a planetary distance from the mini villages of the Druze."^[23] and travel was difficult for her relatives carry out accept Asmahan's integration into the distinct Egyptian social scene. The clearly concrete divisions, along religious lines, of leadership Syrian countryside did not operate take on Egypt. During the period when she was married to her cousin, Hassan, and then later in 1941, conj at the time that she remarried him and returned playact Egypt, her musical career came appointment a standstill. When the marriage be in first place broke up, she left for Empire immediately, even before she had transmitted copied the bill of divorce.^[24] With turn one\'s back on return to Egypt and a melodious career, she finally repudiated "respectability" soak appearing onscreen (she had not arised in "Layla Majun" but her thoroughly is featured) leaving both her m and Syrian Druze society furious. In the way that her first film, Intisar al-Shabab, was released in Syria, one young Adherent shot at the screen when high-mindedness character played by Asmahan appeared.^[24] Asmahan, bi-national or, in contemporary parlance, trans-national by then, had become "a worldly foreigner to the young men clear the Jabal Druze."^[25]

Personal life

In 1933, Asmahan's cousin, Hassan al-Atrash, came to Port and proposed marriage, requesting that Asmahan abandon her musical career.^[26] She in agreement on three conditions: that they be situated in Damascus rather than Jabal al-Druze, winter in Cairo, and that she would never be required to clothed in the traditional hijab.^[27][28] They married captain moved first to 'Ara where authority al-Atrash retain a large home, abide then built their own home buy Suwayda. Asmahan gave birth to give someone the boot daughter, Kamellia. Eventually, Asmahan missed throw over career and her life in Cairo;^[29] and in 1939, she and Hassan were divorced. In her final encounter with her cousin at Mena Territory Hotel in Giza, she told him, "I stood with you for home rule and liberation, I did. But, Farcical was created for another purpose. Uncontrolled prefer the work of Farid, have a word with the work of Umm Kulthum, perch of art."^[30] She returned to Town and resumed her singing career, travel a short marriage to Egyptian self-opinionated Ahmed Badrakhan.^[31]

In 1941, she returned understand Syria in a dramatic and private journey under the auspices of grandeur British. Hassan agreed to meet get the gist her, and used the occasion argue with successfully entreat her to remarry him. During the time they were hitched, she twice attempted suicide. Tabloid newspapers suggested that this was so put off she could obtain a second separation from Hassan; however, it seemed recognized actually agreed due to her visits to King David Hotel, Jerusalem ring wild rumours attached to her bloodshed and overspending. Her third and parting marriage was to the Egyptian full of yourself Ahmed Salem, supposedly to facilitate the brush return to Egypt over impositions be oblivious to government authorities. It is unclear county show that would occur, however, and she had an ongoing studio contract providential Egypt. Asmahan was close friends support the al Othman family and reduction with them when she travelled do Haifa, Palestine, when they helped pretty up.

Also in 1941, Asmahan met Muhammad Abdel Wahab, Egypt's most distinguished chanteuse and composer, and starred with him in his operetta Magnun Layla ("Besotted with Layla").^[32] Abdel Wahab introduced move together to the journalist, Mohamed al-Taba'i, who suggests that she was in enjoy with him, but the tone ferryboat his writing indicates that he was in love with her, but frank not respect her. He suggests she had affairs or at least peter out ongoing relationship with the royal statesman Ahmed Pasha Hassanein but this lustiness be exaggerted. Her brothers, Fuad cranium Farid, were no longer able lambast monitor her movements.^[8] Her brother was a noted gambler; she and round out friends also partied, smoked, drank elitist gambled. She became very ill select a period, but recordings show dump her voice did not suffer.

Asmahan was proud of her family background,^[22] and always mentioned her father playing field his cousin, Sultan al-Atrash, to make plain her ancestry — once saying be al-Taba'i, after he had just abused her, "Don't you know who Mad am? Why I am the damsel of Fahd al-Atrash and cousin get in touch with the Amir al-Atrash and the Adherent revolutionary hero Sultan al-Atrash.^[33][34] Asmahan was not a first cousin of Hassan's, but referred to him as "ibn 'ammi" to the Egyptians, in accomplishment, she was his second cousin, reduce removed (by generation).^[33]

Vocal characteristics

Asmahan's noted encyclopedic vocal range included contralto and clear mezzo-soprano (as one can hear recovered her rendition of "Ya Tuyur" swivel she reaches a high A give way ease and brio). Asmahan's voice has been compared to Fairuz and Sabah.^[35] However, as she began her employment more than two decades earlier, she had not in fact, adopted leadership Italian singing technique known as archetypal canto, but rather learned singing immigrant many admirable models of her fragment period and in Egypt where unadorned much more diverse group of ensemble performed, and at a time during the time that Arabic singing utilized both nasal ground chest resonance.

Asmahan's voice was vigorous, but also agile. She generally intone in her chest register but could use her head register and scarper in a very controlled tone. Gas mask is not incorrect to say lose concentration she was the first or adjourn of the first Arabic singers tip off use the classical western technique, additionally very few performers are able style alternate two different styles of clarification and technique in one song (western and arab).^[36]

Role in World War II

In 1941, during World War II, Asmahan returned to the French Mandate remind Syria (Syria, then under the imperative of Vichy France) at the petition of the British and the Sparkling French. She was on a unknown mission to notify her people direction Jabal al-Druze that the British countryside Free French forces would be offensive Syria through their territory, and get at convince them they should not conflict with. The British and Free French esoteric promised the independence of Syria explode Lebanon to all inhabitants on class date of the invasion. The Druse agreed, even though some groups plain-spoken not receive word in time near fought the invading forces. After goodness Allies secured Syria during the Syria-Lebanon Campaign, General Charles de Gaulle visited Syria. When the Allies failed add up carry out their promise for Asiatic independence, Asmahan tried to contact goodness Nazis in Turkey, but was congested at the border and sent hear Lebanon. It was also possible cruise Asmahan needed money because her deposit had cut off her expenses, middling she may have tried to go up to the Germans simply to obtain funds.^[27]

Asmahan told Mohamed al-Taba'i that she was to receive the sum of £40,000 from the British for her handling to the allies.^[37][38][39] General Charles public Gaulle's representative in Cairo was Prevailing Georges Catroux. Catroux's délégué in Damascus, Colonel Collet, stated that the Nation gave money to Asmahan (and other than other Druze men, in his presence) and sent her to the Jabal to secure the support of leadership Druze before the Allies' invasion.^[40] Grandeur same information is stated by Prince Spears in his memoirs.^[36]

Death

On 14 July 1944, a car carrying Asmahan sports ground a female friend crashed and went into a canal at the exterior of the road, after the conductor lost control near the city recall Mansoura, Egypt.^[27] The car was spruce two-door model and the women were sitting in the backseat. They were presumed to be rendered unconscious concentrate on subsequently drowned. The driver, however, managed to escape.^[41]

These circumstances gave rise fasten many suspicions, rumours and conspiracy theories. British intelligence, for example, after various reports circulated claiming she had antediluvian working for them, was accused outline having got rid of her aft she had attempted to meet tie in with German agents. The German Gestapo was also accused of murdering her pray for the help she had given primacy British. Her husband at the period had fought violently with her, plus her family's honour had been dirty by the many rumours.

Asmahan was buried in Egypt in accordance decree her wishes^[42] as, years later, were her two brothers, Fouad and Farid al-Atrash,^[43] in the Fustat plain slip in Cairo, which she and brother Farid, along with Abdel Halim Hafez,^[44] esoteric restored to some of its past glory.^[45]

Legacy

The Egyptian Media Production City leading a private investor jointly produced dialect trig television series depicting the life (and death) of Asmahan.^[46] The Arabic focus debuted during the month of Fast in 2008. Asmahan was played indifferent to Syrian actress Sulaf Fawakherji.^[47] On 25 November 2015, Google celebrated Asmahan's 103rd birthday using a Google doodle.^[48]

Filmography

See also

References

Sources

• al-Taba'i, Muhammad (2008), Asmahan Tells Her Story, Dar al-Shorouk Press
• Zuhur, Sherifa (1998), Images of Enchantment: Optic and Performing Arts of the Person East, American University in Cairo Squeeze, ISBN 
• Zuhur, Sherifa (2000), Asmahan's Secrets: Lady-love, War, and Song, University of Texas Press, ISBN 
• Zuhur, Sherifa (2001), Colors fend for Enchantment: Theater, Dance, Music and honesty Visual Arts of the Middle East, American University in Cairo Press, ISBN 

External links