Stanford Lecturer + Arabology Program host Dr. Ramzi Salti was recently invited by The Department of Humanities in the School of Arts and Sciences at the Lebanese American University (LAU) to give a talk titled "Identity, Representation, and the Creation of an Alternative Discourse in the Poetry of Jawdat R. Haydar" to mark the 115th anniversary of the renowned Lebanese poet’s birth.
The talk took place online on April 29, 2021 and was followed by a lively Q&A session. With special thanks to Professor Vahid Behmardi, Mrs. Shahina Osseiran, and the Friends of Jawdat Haydar.
You can watch a video of the talk below or at https://youtu.be/ZDMa7uER23Q
FOR POWERPOINT PRESENTATION ONLY (NO VIDEO):
You can also view the PowerPoint through this link where you can click on right arrow to advance to next slide.
RAMZI SALTI'S BIO: Dr. Ramzi Salti is a full-time Lecturer in Arabic at Stanford University where he also hosts a radio program titled Arabology. He has also organized numerous events at Stanford that center on various Arabic cultural icons and productions and has received multiple grants from the Stanford Arts Institute to bring such cultural icons as Emel Mathlouthi, Mike Massy, Yasmine Hamdan and Pierre Dulaine to Stanford. Dr. Salti has an extensive publication record including a collection of short stories, titled The Native Informant & Other Stories which was published in 1994 to much critical acclaim.
Stanford Lecturer + Arabology Host Dr. Ramzi Salti recently spoke to Iraqi/Jordanian violinist Layth Sidiq ليث صِدّيْق in an audio-visual interview which includes an exclusive live performance as well as the following musical excerpts:
0:00 - 01:14 Bagdad by Layth Sidiq (Album: Son of Tigris)
15:10 - 16:27 Eastern Waves by Layth Sidiq (Album: Son of Tigris)
30:13 - 30:51 Zaha Bi Khadayk al-Khafar - زها بخديك الخفر by Layth Sidiq; Violin arrangement: Mohammed Othman Sidiq (Full video at https://youtu.be/fThYA345ZDo)
33:50 - 38:39 Grief is a Journey | الحزن رحلة by Layth Siqiq (Performed Live)
Layth Sidiq is an award-winning violinist, composer and educator and the current artistic director of the New York Arabic Orchestra. He has toured the world and shared the stage with major artists such as Simon Shaheen, Danilo Perez, Javier Limon and Jack Dejohnette, as well as performing in prestigious venues like the London Jazz Festival, Boston Symphony Hall, WOMEX Expo, Panama Jazz Festival and more. He is featured on multiple award-winning albums and his first record Son of Tigris was premiered at the Montreal Jazz Festival in 2016. In 2018, Layth won 2nd place at the Seifert International Jazz Violin Competition as the first Arab to ever participate, and he was also recently awarded 'Best International Artist' at the 2020 Boston Music Awards. He also directs the Center for Arabic Culture's Youth Orchestra Program in Boston and is a faculty member at Carnegie Hall’s ‘Music Educators Workshop.’ For more, go https://www.laythsidiqmusic.com
In celebration of Arab American Heritage Month (April 2021), Arab America recently held a monumental event titled "Celebrating Arab American Literature, Poetry, Arts, and Music" featuring 5 panelists whose work has much to inform any discourse that centers on Arab American culture(s), identity and history.
The lineup featured such writers/performers as Nathalie Handal, Heather Raffo and Dana Dajani in addition to acclaimed Syrian America calligrapher/artist Dr, Mamoun Sakkal and Iraqi-Jordanian violinist Layth Sidiq. The event was moderated by Stanford Lecurer/Arabology host Dr. Ramzi Salti and was organized by Dr. Amal David and Warren David of Arab America.
Many to thanks to Arab America for this kind writeup about my participation in the event. Complete article available at this link.
ABOUT THE PANELISTS:
Nathalie Handal, Arab American (Palestinian), award-winning poet, writer, translator, and editor, professor of English and Creative Writing at Columbia University
Heather Raffo, Iraqi American, award-winning playwright, and actress whose work has been seen Off-Broadway, off West End, in regional theater, and in film.
Dana Dajani, Palestinian American, award-winning, author, poet, and actress who performs spoken-word poetry solo in theatrical style.
Dr. Mamoun Sakkal, Syrian American, award-winning calligrapher, artist, and designer of Arabic language typefaces, many of which are widely used as system fonts by Microsoft.
Layth Sidiq, Iraqi/Jordanian American, award-winning violinist, composer featured on Latin Grammy-nominated albums, lecturer of Arab music, director, Arab Music Ensemble, Tufts University. Watch my audiovisual interview with Layth at https://youtu.be/z9f-54LuMqM
Dr. Ramzi Salti has just interviewed Lebanese singer/songwriter/artist Tania Saleh (by Zoom) about her groundbreaking new album "10 A.D." which was released in March 2021. The interview, now available on Arabology's YouTube Channel, includes these audio-visual/musical excerpts from the album*:
1. The Most Beautiful Love Story أحلى قصة غرام (Listen at 00:00)
2. You Are Going Astray انت رايح فين (Listen at 09:04)
4. Anyone but You إلَا فيك (Listen at 19:43)
5. The Fortune Teller بصّارة برّاجة (Listen at 24:04)
6. Caveman مغارة (Listen at 30:09)
7. I Hate Everything بكره (Listen at 30:31)
8. We Are in a Fix حالتنا حالة (Listen at 33:21)
* All tracks licensed to YouTube by The Orchard Music (on behalf of Kirkelig Kulturverksted)
Design and illustration: Tania Saleh
Font usage: https://tptq-arabic.com
Label: Kirkelig Kulturverksted - http://www.kkv.no
Words and music: Tania Saleh
Music Producers: Tania Saleh & Øyvind Kristiansen
Executive Producers: Tania Saleh & Erik Hillestad
Arranged by: Edouard Torikian & Øyvind Kristiansen
Recording engineers/Egypt: Michael Beskales & Maher Mallakh
Recording and mix engineer/Norway: Martin Abrahamsen
Mastering: Björn Engelmann - Cutting Room, Sweden
Musicians:
Tania Saleh: vocals and backing vocals
Øyvind Kristiansen: piano and music programming
Hazem Shahin: special guest on oud
Hany Bedair: percussions
Ahmed Kamary: kanoon
Mohamed Al Ashry: double bass
Moustafa Kerdany: drums
Berit Cardas: violin1
Emilie Lidsheim: violin2
Einar Kyvik Bauge: viola
Sverre Kyvik Bauge: cello
Tania Saleh's album is supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
More here: http://www.taniasaleh.com
Jordanian Arabic Rock band JadaL, which was formed in 2003 by Composer/Music Producer/Guitarist Mahmoud Radaideh, has just released a new single that revives one of Dalida's most celebrated songs "Helwa Ya Baladi" but with a rock twist. The project/song carries the name of JADALIDA (Jadal+ Dalida) and is available below on YouTube at https://youtu.be/_bQBGeFmsc8
The original song, recorded by Dalida back in the 1970's, can be viewed below or at https://youtu.be/RT37BZ6VjYw
Auditions for As Soon As Impossible will be held via Live Zoom Auditions. Actors will be slotted into 45-min to 1-hour long small-group auditions. To be slotted, actors will need to fill out their audition form here. If you are unable to attend auditions live via zoom, please email tapsinformation@stanford.edu for separate accommodations.
WHAT TO PREPARE
The Director has prepared sides, available for viewing/download on this page under “Resources.” Actors should familiarize themselves with all parts on the sides provided.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
Multiple casting of characters is under consideration. In this case, actors would play their character “in rep.” Understudies are necessary and needed in this rehearsal process for all four roles.
Layla, Ramsey’s granddaughter, age 18 [might appear black, brown, or white]
Extroverted, confident, and funny. Quick witted with astute, sharp, and sometimes cutting observations of others. Often uses her intellect to deflect her feelings around not belonging and being scared of the future. Layla enjoys playing pranks, seeking revenge, trying to lose her virginity, and fantasizing about marrying rich.
Drew, Arthur’s grandson, age 18 [any ethnicity]
Drew is an old soul who would much rather hang out with grandpas than people his own age. Gentle, starting at Berkeley in the fall, in the closet. Not quite comfortable in his own skin; booksmart and looking forward to finding more of himself at college
Ramsey, an Arab-American man in his late sixties [might appear black, brown, or white]
Your quintessential professor – gentle, proper, and possibly a little elitist. From the Middle East, teaches Arabic at Berkeley. Just wants his granddaughter to graduate from high school. Sees the generation and cultural gap between him and his granddaughter more and more each day.
Arthur, an American man in his mid-seventies [will be played by Professor Rush Rehm]
Relies on street and business smarts since college wasn’t for him. Owns a construction business and is doing quite well. Set in his ways, but finds excitement in seeing Layla grab life by the horns. May have voted for George W. Bush — but did he vote for Trump?
As Soon As Impossible — A new play by the Roberta Denning Visiting Artist Betty Shamieh — is a comedy that explores the relationship between two older men, Ramsey and Arthur, an Iraqi-American and a WASP. Their annual summer fishing trip is interrupted by the unexpected appearance of Ramsey’s granddaughter, Layla, who claims to be on the run. With Arthur’s suspicions raised, Ramsey may get more than he bargained for when he begins to plan Arthur a surprise birthday party. A play about friendship in a time of war. This play was originally commissioned by Second Stage with support from the Time Warner Commissioning Program. Theaterworks of Silicon Valley will be workshopping this play in preparation for the Stanford production in the first half of 2021 under the direction of Samer Al-Saber and the supervision of New Works director Giovanna Sardelli.
Though the performance will be mounted in the Summer, rehearsals for this production will officially begin in the Spring. Undergraduate actors will need to enroll in TAPS 122P, and agree to a potential in-person Summer term sponsored by a $500/w VPUE Grant for June 21st through September 6th, 2021.
Auditions for As Soon As Impossible will be held via Live Zoom Auditions. Actors will be slotted into 45-min to 1-hour long small-group auditions. To be slotted, actors will need to fill out the audition form available on the audition website.
WHAT TO PREPARE
The Director has prepared sides, available for viewing/download on the audition website under “Resources.” Actors should familiarize themselves with all parts on the sides provided.
Stanford TAPS seeks to build a diverse cast for this production and encourages members of any race, gender identity, and ability to audition. If any accessibility accommodations are needed please email tapsaudition@gmail.com for assistance.
Professor SAMER AL-SABER, Assistant Professor at TAPS, is a director, writer, and scholar. As director, his work was seen in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and the Middle East and includes the Middle Eastern premier of Arthur Milner’s Facts and an Arabic adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. His written work appeared in Alt.Theatre, Performance Paradigm, Critical Survey, Theatre Survey, and other academic and trade venues, including the anthology Stories Under Occupation and Other Plays from Palestine, co-edited with Gary English.
BETTY SHAMIEH (Denning Visiting Artist for Spring 2021) is an Arab-American playwright. Her American premieres include: The Black Eyed (New York Theatre Workshop), Fit for a Queen (Classical Theatre of Harlem), The Strangest (The Semitic Root), Territories (Magic Theatre) and Roar (The New Group). Selected as a New York Times Critics Pick, Roar is widely taught at universities throughout the United States. A graduate of Harvard College and the Yale School of Drama, Shamieh was named a Guggenheim Fellow, UNESCO Young Artist for Intercultural Dialogue, and a Radcliffe Playwriting Fellow. A Mellon Playwright in Residence at the Classical Theatre of Harlem, her works have been translated into seven languages. www.bettyshamieh.com
Currently in its tenth year, this radio program/podcast began airing on KZSU 90.1 FM in 2011 with the aim of highlighting various cultural productions from/about the Arab world, with a special focus on indie/alternative music. The show is presented in English with commentary by its host, Stanford Lecturer Dr. Ramzi Salti.
With the beginning of the pandemic back in March 2020, the show has had to change formats and is now available as a series of audio-visual YouTube interviews with groundbreaking Arab musicians, poets, artists and more. To stay up to date with the latest episodes, please subscribe to Arabology's YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/RamziSalti
We are looking forward to resuming the audio posdcats as soon as the radio station reopens this year inshallah. In the meantime, feel free to peruse/enjoy all previous Arabology podcasts by listening below or going to https://soundcloud.com/arabology/sets/podcasts
أميرة البيلي شاعرة مصرية من مواليد محافظة الاسكندرية بدأت كتابة الشعر من ٢٠١٤ واستمرت في تطوير اسلوبها في الكتابة والالقاء وتميزت في الفترة الاخيرة بأسلوبها الخاص. وقد نالت قصيدتها "أنا مليت" والتي أبكت مصر بالمركز الاول في مسابقة ابداع الاسكندرية. يمكنكم مشاهدة الفيديو أدناه أو عبر الرابط التالي: https://youtu.be/GHPjwlPUTCg
يرد يقولي مش غلطان ومانتيش قادرة تتعاملي مع تعبي ...
انا مليت انا الهبلة اللي شوفتک بيت..وقولت ابويا وحبيبي يا سيدي كفاية والله دانا اتخميت وفكرتك هتبقالي السند والاهل
مهواش سهل بأن البنت يوم تعشق ولو تعشق بتوهب روحها وحياتها وتتحمل وتتجمل عشان تحلوا في عيونه فـ ميبصش فيوم برا خلاص برا انا استحملت ميت مره وسيادته غاوي يتعبني يا سيدي ما تمشي وتسيبني بـ تتعب قلبي ليه وياک !
Currently in its tenth year, this radio program/podcast began airing on KZSU 90.1 FM in 2011 with the aim of highlighting various cultural productions from/about the Arab world, with a special focus on indie/alternative music. The show is presented in English with commentary by its host, Stanford Lecturer Dr. Ramzi Salti.
With the beginning of the pandemic back in March 2020, the show has had to change formats and is now available as a series of audio-visual YouTube interviews with groundbreaking Arab musicians, poets, artists and more. To stay up to date with the latest episodes, please subscribe to Arabology's YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/RamziSalti
We are looking forward to resuming the audio posdcats as soon as the radio station reopens this year inshallah. In the meantime, feel free to peruse/enjoy all previous Arabology podcasts by listening below or going to https://soundcloud.com/arabology/sets/podcasts
Below is a YouTube playlist featuring all 12 of Arabology's audio-visual interviews which were conducted by Dr. Ramzi Salti in 2020-21. Click on the icon in the top right of the video window for the entire playlist or go to this link.
Dr. Ramzi Salti recites a poem titled “Ya Shaqiq Al-Ruh يا شقيق الروح” [Brother of My Soul] by Andalusian poet Ibn Sanā' al-Mulk (1155–1211). This poem belongs to the muwashahat genre, a branch of Arabic poetry that is exclusively associated with the time of Al-Andalus or Islamic Spain.
الدكتور رمزي سلطي يلقي قصيدة يا شقيق الروح للشاعر الاندلسي أبو القاسم هبة الله بن جعفر بن سناء الملك الذي ولد في مصر سنة 550 هـ -608هـ. وقد غنت له فيروز مقطعاً من هذه القصيدة بتوقيع الأخوين رحباني لحناً يمكنكم سماعه في نهاية هذا الفيديو
The literature of al-Andalus, also known as Andalusi literature (Arabic: الأدب الأندلسي, al-adab al-andalusī), was produced in Al-Andalus, or Islamic Iberia, from the time of the Muslim conquest in 711 to either the Catholic conquest of Granada in 1492 or the Expulsion of the Moors ending in 1614.
Andalusi literature was written primarily in Arabic, but also in Hebrew, Judeo-Arabic, Aljamiado, and Mozarabic. This poetic genre remains very popular in the Arab world today, as demonstrated in the works of several contemporary singers, including Lebanese singer Fairuz and the Rahbani brothers who, in the 1970s, released an album of muwashahat under the title of Al-Andalusiyat الاندلسيات (audio excerpt by Fairuz is included at the end of this video).
This poetic tradition has also made a profound impact on Spain's Generation of ’27, as seen, for example, in the works of Federico García Lorca.
In lieu of my annual podcast in which I usually count down the Top 30 indie/alternative songs of the year, I am sharing this year a YouTube Playlist which includes Arabology's Top 30 songs of 2020. Playlist starts with Number 1 and goes down to 30.
You can listen to the songs, in order, on Spotify below (scroll down after list) or watch all 30 music videos on YouTube.
Listen to the Spotify list below (scroll down after list) or at: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0JNZRpmJuZ3ZIXjm5t3NDP Note that #13,14,29,30 have been replaced by songs by same artist since they are unavailable on Spotify
Best Indie/Alternative Arabic songs that came out of the Arab world in 2020
1. Emsallam ft. Adan Wakeem - Aref Innak مسلّم مع عدن واكيم - عارف إنك
2. E M E L - Holm (A Dream) آمال مثلوثي - حلم 3. Bu Kolthoum - Mamnoun بو كلثوم - ممنون 4. Elsayed Agamy ft. Yusor - Raka W Raka السيد عجمي مع يسر - راقة و راقة
5. Omar Kamal - Ya Rayeh Sawb Bladi عمر كمال - يا رايح صوب بلادي 6. 47SOUL - Dabke System السبعة و أربعين - دبكة سيستم 7. Faraj Suleiman - Questions on My Mind فرج سليمان - في أسئلة براسي 8. Shabjdeed - NKD GLG (Prod. Al Nather) شب جديد - نكد چلچ 9. Cairokee - Kan Lak Ma’aya كايروكي - كان لك معايا 10. The Synaptik X Maysa Daw - Jowa Beiti السينابتيك مع ميساء ضو - جوا بيتي
11. Hamed Sinno - Mashaniq حامد سنو – مشانق 12. Aziz Maraka - Mafi Mennik عزيز مرقة – ما في منك 13. El Far3i - Dry Clean (P. Arab Keyz) الفرعي - دراي كلين * إنتاج عرب كيز 14. Lynn Adib & Zeid Hamdan - Ya Habibi Ta’ala - يا حبيبي تعالَ 15. Autostrad - Istana Shwai أوتوستراد - استنى شوي 16. Marwan Asad Ft. The Synaptik X Mohamed Mansour - Qamarhen قمرهن 17. Shabjdeed - MANTIKA (Prod. Al Nather) شب جديد - منطقة 18. Tania Saleh - Ya Reit (I Wish) تانيا صالح - يا ريت 19. The Synaptik (Ft.الفرعي- El Far3i) - Dari- السينابتيك - داري
20. Ramy Essam – Ya Habayebna (Oh You Loved Ones) رامى عصام - يا حبايبنا 21. Souad Massi - Wakfa سعاد ماسي - واقفة 22. Nour Khan - Hazeena نورخان - حزينة 23. Jamaet Khair Ft. Aziz - El Hob El Bekir جماعة خير مع عزيز - الحب البكر 24. Tamer Nafar - Ili Al-Haq (تامر نفار - إلي الحق (وين بصرفوها هاي؟ 25. Kuwaisiana (Ft Plus Aziz) - Bara7a (براحة) 26. Naima Shalhoub - Four (Roumieh Prison Blues) (feat. Excentrik & Marcus Shelby) 27. Massar Egbari (ft Asmaa) - Raghm El Masafa رغم المسافة - مسار اجباري مع أسماء أبو اليزيد 28. Chantal Bitar - Bel Haijr El-Sehi شانتال بيطار - بالحجر الصحّي 29. E M E L + Various Artists - Kelmti Horra (My Word Is Free) - Quarantine Session 30. Layth Sidiq – Grief Is a Journey (Instrumental) ليث صديق – الحزن رحلة
