Mamdouh: I’m Reviving Eastern Musical Legacy in Western Setting

Waheed Mamdouh is considered one of the brightest guitar stars in the Middle East, especially because of his work to change the stereotype of many of the oriental tunes preserved by the Arab audience, in addition to his work among the top stars of Arab music. Here is the interview excerpt conducted by See News.

-Tell us about your heritage music revival project?

Classic and Arab songs were reintroduced in a Western setting by changing the music distribution without affecting the original melody.

The last one was in the Riyadh season, on the opera night, was presented a music to Abdel Halim Hafez as well as "the last summer days" and "your love in the summer" by the great Fayrouz, but in a completely different vision.

-Do you regard Arabic songs as challenge being faced by other guitarists?

The guitar machine has its own characteristics, it cannot provide all that is oriental, but I make a lot of effort to adapt it, especially to play the role of the singer in famous songs, which is easy for a machine like the “oud” to play. However, in the eastern region, it poses a great challenge

-Is the Egyptian public different from others?

The Egyptian audience differs a lot, so memorizing the details of the melodies makes him know where the stops are, where they should clap, and where the changes I have added to the original distribution. If they like the melody, they applaud you. If they dont like it, they do express objection.

Because Egyptian public is the audience that can make great comparisons, in addition to the high musical culture since they know the history of each song, its occasion, and its composer.

-What was your goal when you thought of replaying old tunes?

I relied on the public’s progress in the old works, not only to re-present it in a new template that revives it, but also took it as a way to gain the audience confidence and an ideal means of acquaintance, even if I started launching my own works that the audience accepted and sought to hear.

-What is new?

I Accompanied many singers in the Riyadh Festival, Mohamed Abdou, Nawal Al-Kuwaiti. Also, I considered Saudi Arabia's artistic activity an excellent Arab opportunity added to the map of Arab festivals, and I do not consider it a competition for Egypt, as it is originally based on the hands of its sons. In addition, I participated Saad Al-Mujdar and Angham in their concerts, as well as now in Dubai with the participation of Hussein Al Jasmi, , during the opening ceremony of the shopping festival.

Also, I made 5 video clips, one of them is taken in Paris, another in Italy, another in the Malpes and another in America, but all of them are for Western music works and the last one was filmed in Egypt and will be released soon.

[gallery jnewsslider_title="Mamdouh concerts" ids="101519,101528,101526"]