Sayed Darwish

Sayed Darwish was an Egyptian singer and composer, born on March 17, 1892, and passed away on September 14, 1923. He is remembered as the father of Egyptian popular music and is regarded as one of Egypt's greatest musicians. Many see him as the country's single greatest composer. His music brought joy to many people and helped shape the sound of modern Egyptian music. For more about his life, you can read about him here.

Early life

Sayed Darwish was born in Alexandria on 17 March 1892. His family could not afford to pay for his education, so he went to a religious school where he learned to recite the Quran under Muhammad Salamah. After finishing there and earning the title Sheikh Sayyed Darwish, he studied for two years at al-Azhar, a famous religious university. He decided to focus on music instead of continuing his studies.

Darwish also trained to be a singer and worked as a bricklayer to help his family. One day, the manager of a theatrical group, the Syrian Attalah Brothers, heard him singing and hired him right away. While traveling in Syria, he learned more about music but did not become very famous yet. He returned to Egypt before the start of the Great War. He began singing in cafés and on stages, learning from older composers and creating his own musical styles. Even though his music was very clever, he did not become well-known because his stage presence was not as strong as other singers of the time, like Sâlih 'Abd al-Hayy or Zakî Murâd.

Career

After many attempts singing in cafés, in 1918 he decided to pursue an operatic career, following Shaykh Salama Hegazy. He moved to Cairo and worked with famous comedian Naguib el-Rihani, creating seven operettas. Their shows often included social and political themes, which helped them become very popular.

Sayed Darwish also worked with other famous performers and started his own company. Although some of his own shows weren’t as successful, he continued creating music for others. His songs often used Western musical styles and instruments like the piano. Many of his melodies became well-known and are still loved today. He is especially remembered for his music during the 1919 revolt against British occupation, which helped express the feelings and hopes of many Egyptians.

Musical style

Sayed Darwish believed that real art should come from people's hopes and feelings. In his music, he shared the emotions and experiences of ordinary people, including their hopes for a better future and their concerns about unfair treatment. He also sang about the strong feelings of his country against foreign rulers and about important social issues.

Darwish mixed Western musical instruments with traditional Arab and Egyptian styles, making his music loved by everyone, rich and poor alike. He wrote many songs, operettas, and other musical pieces that became very popular because they told stories about everyday life and national pride. His music helped change traditional styles, making them more modern and accessible. One of his famous songs, "Bilaadi! Bilaadi!" (My Country! My Country!), is still well-known today. His work brought the sounds of the streets and everyday life into his music, making it deeply meaningful to many people.

Death

The life of Sayed Darwish ended on 10 September 1923 when he was just thirty-one years old. There are different stories about why he passed away, with some saying it was because of too many drugs. However, his family says this isn’t true. They point to a letter he wrote where he talked about changing his ways and staying away from late nights and risky behavior. His music also often encouraged people to stay away from harmful substances.

Legacy

Sayed Darwish was called the father of new Egyptian music when he was just 30 years old. He brought fresh ideas to Arab music, making it more modern.

His music lives on today. He believed music was more than just fun—it could express big hopes and dreams. People remember him with street names, statues, stamps, an opera house, and even a movie. His songs supported the struggles of Egyptians and all Arabs, making Arab music richer.

Compositions

Main article: Bilady, Bilady, Bilady

Main article: Salma Ya Salama (song)

Sayed Darwish created music for the Egyptian national anthem, "Bilady, Bilady, Bilady". The words came from a famous speech by Mustafa Kamil. On the day he passed away, a leader named Saad Zaghloul came back to Egypt after being away. People sang another song Darwish made called "Mesrona watanna Saaduha Amalna" to welcome him home.

Darwish also made music for a poem called "Salma ya Salama" by Badi' Khayri. This poem celebrated workers who came back after working in other countries during the war. The song talked about missing home and became very popular across Egypt. It was sung and performed by many people and marked the start of many beloved Egyptian songs.

Arrangements of his compositions for classical string orchestra by (Amir Awad)

Here are some beautiful songs made for string orchestra by Sayed Darwish, arranged by Amir Awad:

• Telet ya mahla Nourha
• Ya Bahget El Rouh
• Ya ward alla fol we yasmin
• Aho da elly Sar
• Ya shady el Alhan
• Bent El youm
• Bokra ya Benty
• Ma oltelaksh in el kotra

Memorials

The Sayyid Darwish Theatre was named to honor him.