Sabah Fakhri

Naghm Al Ams 4 (Melodies of Yesterday)

• Nabeh Al Ndman (Awakening Regret)
• Zarani Al Mahboub (My Beloved Visited Me)
• Afdihe Dbian Ebtasam (I Would Sacrifice For Him a Gazelle Who Smiles)
• Ya Taer Yalli A'l Shajar (Oh, Bird On the Tree)
• Ya Nas Ana Bowfi Bihobi (Oh People, I Am Loyal To My Love)

• Taqasim Oud Wkaman (Oud and Violin Improvisations)
• Km Nob (How Many Times?)
• Ya Maria Ya Msawsaha (Oh Maria, You Charmer)
• Ya Manta Waheshni (Oh You, I Miss You)

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This recording is one of a series of cassettes that captures the 1970s radio program Melodies of Yesterday presented by Damascus Cinema Company, featuring world renown Syrian artist Sabah Fakhri. Each episode is interspersed with segments from the announcer containing information about the maqams (melodic modes) and the songs to be presented. Throughout this series, Fakhri dedicated one maqam to each episode, singing several Muwashahat, Adwar, and Mawaweel, as well as poems and Aleppo-style Qudud. Sabah Fakhri (1933-2021) is celebrated as one of the greatest singers in Arabic music of the 20th century. Born in Aleppo, Sabah studied there at the Academy of Arabic Music and later in Damascus, graduating in 1948. Fakhri was known for his powerful vocals, precise control of musical scales and harmony, and captivating stage presence. He famously presented traditional Arabic music forms such as Qudud and Muwashahat to the world on the stage, television and radio during a career that spanned more than 50 years. His popularity extended beyond Arabic-speaking countries to Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Australia, where he sang exclusively in Arabic. He even set a Guinness World Record for singing continuously for 10 hours in Caracas, Venezuela. Unlike many other Arab artists, he never relocated to Cairo – believing that his fame was tied to Syria's artistic heritage.