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
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
A special video greeting to everyone who has ever supported my Arabology radio/YouTube program and many thanks to all the amazing Arab artists who have graciously agreed to be interviewed through the years. Here's to a better 2021! Watch below or at https://youtu.be/628MU8iTqzE
اتمنى لجميع مشاهدي برنامج عربولوجي عاماً جديداً مليئاً بالصحة والعافية والنجاح والف شكر على محبتكم ومتابعتكم وتشجيعكم عبر السنوات. كما اود أن أشكر كل الفنانين من جميع انحاء الوطن العربي الذين شاركوني بمشوارهم الفني وأعمالهم العظيمة من خلال المقابلات التي أجريتها معهم
الرجاء الاشتراك بالقناة ليصلكم كل ماهو جديد
Here is my modest attempt to translate Fairuz's song "Khidni Ya Habibi خدني يا حبيبي " [Take Me Away, My Love] from Arabic into English. This song has always had a special place in my heart, as does the operetta/musical Petra in which it was initially performed, back in 1978.
I have uploaded a special video of the song, with optional English subtitles, to my YouTube Channel. To view subtitles, start playing video then click on CC at bottom of video screen/window.
Until the nights return, along with our loved ones
My love, my love, my love
Take me away, leave me behind
Joy is on its way
Your love consumes me
While you have no companion
Take me away, leave me behind
Joy is on its way
Your love consumes me
While you have no companion
O King of all Swords
You took away the summer
I imagine you everywhere
Lost in the fog
Take me away, my love
Take me away, my love
Leave me in a deep slumber
On a clear and bright day
My love, my love, my love
There was once a little princess
Who grew up too quickly
Jealousy surrounded her
And she had no wings to fly away
There was once a little Princess
Who grew up too quickly
Jealousy surrounded her
She had no wings to fly away
They made her live in Palaces
Surrounded by vast oceans
The Princess was too little
And the oceans (doors) too vast
Take me away, my love
To a house that has no doors
Take me away, my love
To the moon that guides those who are lost
Leave me in a deep slumber
On a clear, bright day
Until the nights return, along with our loved ones
My love, my love, my love
English Translation by Dr. Ramzi Salti
Original Arabic Lyrics
An Egyptian man arrived one night Carrying with him the mysteries of the Pyramids And the sublime color of the Nile He appeared out of nowhere and, like joy itself, He gave us hope.
Take me away, my love To a house that has no doors Take me away, my love To the moon that guides the forgotten Leave me in a deep slumber on a clear, bright day Until the nights return, along with our loved ones My love, my love, my love
Take me away, leave me behind Joy is on its way Your love consumes me While you have no companion O King of all Swords You took away the summer I imagine you everywhere Lost in the fog
Take me away, my love Take me away, my love Leave me in a deep slumber On a clear and bright day My love, my love, my love
There was once a little princess Who grew up too quickly Jealousy surrounded her And she had no wings to fly away They made her live in Palaces Surrounded by vast oceans But the Princess was too little And the oceans (doors) too vast
Take me away, my love To a house that has no doors Take me away, my love To the moon that guides those who are lost Leave me in a deep slumber On a clear, bright day Until the nights return, along with our loved ones My love, my love, my love
JUST RELEASED: Stanford Lecturer + Arabology host Dr. Ramzi Salti interviews multi-talented Kuwaiti musician +Aziz of Kuwaisiana, a groundbreaking band that fuses alternative Arab/Khaleeji rock with New Orleanian jazz, funk and more. This audio-visual interview was recorded in December 2020 and spotlights the band's amazing new music video ' Bara7a (براحة)' and upcoming EP Chapter 2.
While there is a spectrum of alternative Arabic music being made today across the Middle East, Kuwaisiana’s sound explores new territory for the Khaleeji dialect (the culture associated with the Arabian Peninsula), which is typically more closed off and protective of its symbols. ⚡ The result is a unique twist to what “Alternative Arab Rock” or a “New Orleans band” can sound like and a highly imaginative journey for listeners.
Working in Arabic and English, Kuwaisiana is a full-bodied band producing a danceable, dynamic sound that draws on world music and indie rock. Led by Kuwaiti singer-songwriter +Aziz, the 6-piece blends funk, rock, ska with New Orleanian jazz, adding a unique twist to what Indie Arab Rock can sound like. Their followup is scheduled to be released on January 15, 2021.
Current Band Members of Kuwaisiana: +Aziz - vocals/guitar 🇰🇼 Matthieu - Drums 🇫🇷 Sam Levine - Bass 🇺🇲 Dehan Elçin - Trumpet 🇹🇷 Nick Ferreirae - Sax 🇺🇲 Patrick Driscoll - Hand percussion 🇺🇲
Lyrically, +Aziz explores the cultures he knows so well through his metaphor-rich lyrics, which sustain a tension between conversational and a more evocative, poetic perspective. Kuwaisiana is making progress at a time when so much of the world is in flux. Pre-order the EP at link below (to be released on January 15, 2021).
Born out of +Aziz’s desire to explore parallels between American and Khaleeji cultures, Chapter 2 is his band’s followup EP to Chapter 1, which was released through Universal Music MENA. This new 22-minute EP deepens the band’s exploration of the day-to-day experiences of Arab-American youth and the evolving viewpoints of Khaleejis living in the Arabian Peninsula. It will be self-released on Bandcamp on January 15, 2021 and then published to streaming platforms.
✔️ Official music video for Bara7a (براحة) by Kuwaisiana: https://youtu.be/qXhzKq7syhQ
✔️ Pre-Order Chapter 2 on Bandcamp: https://kuwaisiana.bandcamp.com/album/chapter-2
✔️ All Lyrics & Translations: http://www.kuwaisiana.com/lyrics
This audio-visual talk by Stanford Lecturer + Arabology program host Dr. Ramzi Salti was presented for the Education Partnership for Internationalizing Curriculum (EPIC) Fellowship program (Stanford Global Studies) in September 2020.
Description: For years, certain Lebanese indie/alternative musicians have attempted to broach themes of socio-economic injustice, corruption, and politics in their work--a prophetic fact that may have much to inform recent events in Lebanon where the capital has been rocked by one of the most violent tragedies in recent memory. By showcasing some of Beirut's most talented indie/alternative musicians, the aim of this talk is to remind us of the role that music can play in helping us to heal and rebuild.
About Dr. Ramzi Salti: Born in 1966 in Lebanon, he completed his high school education in Jordan in 1983 before moving to the United States where, in 1997, he earned his Ph.D. in Comparative Literature (Arabic, French, English) from UC Riverside. Since 1999, he has been a full-time Lecturer at Stanford University where he also authors his own blog and hosts a radio program/podcast titled Arabology--which airs on KZSU Stanford 90.1 FM. Podcasts are available at https://soundcloud.com/arabology
Just released on YouTube: Stanford Lecturer + Arabology host Dr. Ramzi Salti interviews rapper/songwriter Tareq Abu Kwaik AKA El Far3i الفرعي about his upcoming Crowdcast (online) concert on December 12, 2020.
This audio visual interview was recorded on November 15, 2020 and includes footage from the official promo video "El Far3i Real-time 12/12/2020 (Official Promo) الفرعي مباشر"--produced by Arab Drumz, Directed by Raneem Hannoush, Filmed & Edited by Zoe Fayaud. Official promo video is available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/BErE55JzzCc
Arab Drumz Presents “El Far3i Real-time” High Quality Live Streaming Concert from the Specialized Audio-Visual Studio in London T.E.N Studios. Program includes full Acoustic Show Including Popular songs by El Far3i and Exclusive Performances of New Unreleased Songs from His Upcoming Acoustic Album (Nas Min Khashab) 2021 mixed with:
1. Clips From the Making of "El Far3i Real-time"
2. Premiere of NEW video clip for Rap/Mahrajan Song “El Far3i - Hayarafo Meen” in collaboration with Egyptian Producer Molotof
3. Live Chat with the Winner from the Comments Question
4. Q&A with The Attendees
Watch official video clip "El Far3i Real-time 12/12/2020 (Official Promo)" below or at https://youtu.be/BErE55JzzCc
Stanford Lecturer + Arabology host Dr. Ramzi Salti has interviewed Hamed Sinno, vocalist/lyricist of the groundbreaking Lebanese band Mashrou' Leila, who joined us by Zoom on October 9, 2020.
In this interview, Hamed talks about life during COVID, his recent project with Mika to help Beirut, his new song 'Mashaniq' following the explosions in Lebanon, his musical collaborations with Narcy as well as with Hercules & Love Affair, and life after a decade with Mashrou Leila.
This project was made possible through an artsCatalyst grant from Stanford University; artsCatalyst Grants foster interdisciplinary arts experiences that enhance classroom experiences for undergraduate students. These grants fund guest speaker honoraria and supplemental activity materials.
