Lebanese Folk Songs Arranged for Piano and Percussion by Henri Goraieb

Traditional Lebanese folk melodies arranged for piano and percussion by Henri Goraieb*. For some of the melodies, Henri Goraieb had the privilege to listen to the Lebanese legendary and iconic singer, Fairouz who specially sang them for him with the precious advice of the famous composer of Lebanese songs, Elias Rahbani (1938-2021).
Recording in studio Baalbek 1965, Beirut, Lebanon.
*Originally published in 1965 and 1966 in two 45-RPM vinyl records by Mario Haddad, the director of SLD (Société Libanaise du Disque).
Contents
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- KOUMI TAKHADAEI YA ZEINA / YAM AL ABAYA / YA GHOUZAYEL
- AL ROUZANA / OUF MACHAAL / YA MAYILA AL GHOUSSOUN
- AH YA ZEIN
- AL YADI YADI / YA BANAT ISKANDARIA / AH YA ASMAR EL LON / ALA DAL-OUNA
- WADDI YA BAHR WADDI / TAFTA HINDI / LA LIBANAISE / YA HNAYENA / HALA LALALAYA
- DABKE (ZAHLE) / YA GHOZAYEL / UNE VOIX DANS LA VALLEE / LA VIE AU
Henri Goraieb (1935 - 2021)
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Born in Lebanon to a Lebanese father and a French mother, Henri Goraieb had a dual Lebanese-French culture. At only 13 years old, he performed for the first time Edward Grieg's Concerto in A minor. Later he went to Paris where he obtained the ``Diplôme d’Etudes pour le Piano`` at the age of 18 from ``Conservatoire National de Musique`` with the highest distinction. Then he obtained the temperament of a concert pianist in Paris while training with great pedagogues, like Germaine Mounier and Marguerite Long. Finally, it was with the Russian pianist Oleg Ivanov, a professor at the Moscow Conservatory, that he was able to combine his profound musicality with the legendary Russian piano technique.
Henri Goraieb who played more than 70 concertos, was a soloist with many prestigious orchestras and has given numerous concerts and recitals in major European capitals and cities. Two tours in Russia were greeted triumphantly. In Europe, India, and various Middle Eastern countries, the press unanimously hailed the performances of this great pianist.
With his love and profound knowledge of the opera, Henri Goraieb animated for almost 20 years (the 1980s to 1990s) many programs broadcasted on the French National Radio “France Musique”; notably his weekly programs devoted to lyrical art named “Voix souvenirs”, and “Premières Loges” with the most prestigious voices of the time.

[@fadychecri]

Thank you ARA for keeping this heritage alive.

[@jazzrain666]

Wow such an amazing work! I myself am not an expert but through my common sense and humble opinion, I allow myself to say that for me as a Lebanese, this work not only technically marries classical music composition and Levantine songs, but it much more importantly really conveys a certain Lebanese/Levantine modern spirit. To avoid falling into generalizations about the Lebanese/Levantine culture and to be precise, maybe this thing I'm calling "Levantine modern spirit" dates back to the musical/cultural heritage the Rahbanis and other prominent musicians and composers of the 50's of the last century left us.
This work is way impressing than many more recent attempts of fusing classical music and Lebanese music.