The songs of Oum Kalthoum have attained cult status in the Arab world. From the 1930s onwards, the icon of tarab music sang for hours every first Thursday of the month for radio and television audiences about the joys and sorrows of love, longing and renunciation. Love & Revenge is a group paying a vibrant tribute to the singer with «Agmal Layali». In their concerts, the trio regularly bring Arab pop history and Egyptian film archives back to life. Likewise, this performance translates Umm Kulthum's songs into the present day with electric oud, synthesiser and sampling techniques, rounding off the overall picture with video collages and drum machine. In he end, Love & Revenge achieve what Umm Kulthum always wanted: tarab – enchantment and ecstasy.
LINER NOTES «Agmal Layali» is a heartfelt tribute by Love & Revenge to the legendary Oum Kalthoum, known as the Star of the East. Staying true to the concept of their visual concerts, Love & Revenge seamlessly blend archival footage and traditional sounds from the Arab world with contemporary electronic music.
In «Agmal Layali» («The Most Beautiful Nights»), the group fuses the mesmerizing «tarab» of the Egyptian singer with the rhythms of drum machines, synthesizers, and electric oud. This performance is both a musical tribute and a reinterpretation of cultural heritage, inviting audiences across generations to discover or rediscover the captivating voice of Oum Kalthoum and the timeless magic of tarab.
Contrary to popular belief, tarab is not a musical genre. In Arab culture, tarab is used to describe the emotional impact of music, and it is also associated with a traditional form of artistic music. It refers to an ancient repertoire rooted in the musical practices of Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean Arab world before World War I and is directly tied to emotional evocation.
Throughout Arab history, music has been linked to extraordinary powers believed to transform both the audience and the musicians on a spiritual level. There is no precise English word that captures the meaning of tarab, which makes it difficult to define. Tarab can be seen as a multifaceted musical experience capable of eliciting intense emotional and mental reactions, ranging from excitement, inspiration, and creativity to feelings of ecstasy, timelessness, and even sorrow.
Tarab can be triggered by various musical elements, such as a singer’s vocal performance, instrumental virtuosity, the lyrical poetry of the lyrics, or the complexity of melodic structures. It can also be amplified by the interaction between the musician and the audience, creating a shared collective experience.
Tarab is deeply rooted in Arab musical culture, and Oum Kalthoum became one of its greatest interpreters. Her powerful voice, her talent for emotional interpretation, and her ability to create a deep emotional connection with her audience made her a true legend of Arab music. Her legacy in the world of tarab endures to this day.
Love & Revenge embark on an ambitious artistic project by revisiting Oum Kalthoum’s iconic repertoire, exploring the synergy between the singer’s tarab and electronic music.
Though originating from distinct cultural contexts, tarab and electronic music share certain musical and experiential similarities. Firstly, both genres emphasize repetition and the creation of hypnotic sound patterns. Tarab, with its intricate melodies and repetitive sequences, shares this characteristic with electronic music, where loops and recurring motifs transport the listener into an alternate reality.
Additionally, both tarab and electronic music are often associated with intense sensory experiences. The emotional nuances of tarab, with its passionate vocals and rich musical arrangements, resonate with the sonic intensity generated by electronic music, especially in club and festival settings. Finally, both genres have the ability to transcend the individual and create a sense of community and belonging, whether in tarab concerts, where the audience actively participates, or in electronic music events, where crowds dance in harmony, sharing a collective musical experience.
By presenting an «Electronic Oum Kalthoum», Love & Revenge’s ambition is to build a cultural bridge, introducing the singer to a new generation that may be less familiar with the richness of Arab musical heritage. By incorporating modern beats, synthesizers, and other elements of electronic music, they seek to establish an intergenerational connection. TICKETS 35 / 45 / 25 – Legi 15 CHF DAY PASS 40 / 50 / 30 - Legi 15 CHF
INFO & BARRIEREFREIHEIT
The event is wheelchair accessible. Loud music will be played and there will be rapid changes in lighting.
COOPERATION
Jazzhane, Rote Fabrik Zürich, co-curation: Adham Hafez
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