Here we go again with one of our folktales and one of the most remarkable egyptian musical instruments " el simsimya ". Before talking about it you shall listen to this piece of art by the great egyptian singer "Mohamed Mounir " don't focus on the words , focus on the music, on the magical tune coming out of this stringed equipment .
Anyways here is the translation for the song
to the bullet of the rifle
and the strong hand on the trigger
sing to the cannons
and to people behind them
and tell to the leader:
shoot not just once
shoot a thousand shots
The origins of the Simsimiyyia are lost in the mist of time and legend. It's modern history comes to life in the 1930s, when Cafe owners in Port Said often employed a player to entertain their customers in the old-time smoking dens. Adopting influences from other styles of local folk music and local Sufi beliefs, the instrument quickly gained in popularity, eventually drawing large audiences and a new repertoire known simply as Simsimiyya was created. This popular success was followed by a downturn after the war: economic difficulties and widespread commercialization led to a decline of the tradition in the late 1970s, and many of the old masters simply withdrew from performing, disillusioned and tired.
Simisimya is an instrument that belongs closely to the folk music of
the Suez canal towns
Port Said, Ismailiyya and Suez
The instrument itself is a kind of lyre, a stringed instrument that
was carried to the Canal district towns from Sudan along the coast.
The tanboura,the old version of simsimya is said to have its roots in Ancient Egypt and
is played until our days in Upper Egypt. It
has five strings , smaller than the simsimiyya, and its strings are made of
organic material.
The tanboura was a zar instrument. In course of time and with the
developing of the tradition the instrument changed. The actual simsimiyya,
which is used to accompany singing, usually has from 12 to 14 metallic strings,
sometimes even 25.
The Suez Canal district has been
of crucial importance between Africa and Asia, and from the beginnings of Islam,
pilgrims have travelled through Suez on their
way from and to Mecca.
The completion of the Suez Canal in 1869 was an important event for Egypt,
strategically, politically and affecting the developing of the folk music of the
district.
.
In gatherings, the musicians and singers sat in a circle, The
instruments used were just the drum, spoons, and sometimes a tambourine. The
simsimiyya didn’t come along probably until late thirties. The words of the
songs were usually about love or religious feelings.
Accprding to doctor Mohamed shabana ,who studied the music of the Canal district their songs
are influenced by at least five musical genres: The Religious Hadra , The
Workers’ Songs, The Songs of Awalims , The Old Muwashahat Songs and the
traditions of the surrounding areas.
Soon the simsimya became the
most essential instrument of this urban tradition of Port
Said, Ismailiyya and Suez.
The Political Meaning
Simsimiyya received a new importance in the 1950'ies when it got
connected to the ideology of the resistance movement against the British
occupation, and it became the instrument of the nationalistic music.
The renewed music tradition is filled with stories about the fierce
nationalism and fighting spirit of Suez.
1967 Egypt fought the
Six-Day War against Israel,
during which most of the homes in Suez
were destroyed.
One of the most known personalities who had an effect on the reforming
of the simsimiyya tradition is Mohamed Mahmoud Ghazali, known as Captain
Ghazali, born in 1928, who was a leader figure of the resistance movement and
formed a simsimiyya band called Awlad al-Ard in 1967. The troupe was known by
the name firqat al-battaniyya ('the blanket orchestra') due to their way to
perform sitting in a circle on a blanket.
Beside the simsimiyya, the
instruments were a washbasin, tin cans, spoons and empty bottles, to produce
different rhythms.
Ghazali wrote the lyrics to convey to all Egyptians the comforting
message of hope and security and to raise the fighting spirit of the troops ;
several groups were founded in different parts of the country, and many poets
began to write song lyrics.
After the victorious war of 1973 the simsimiyya tradition got its
part of influence; old songs were brought back to life, the proportion of the
nationalistic songs decreased, and the simsimiyya instrument started to be used
for performing different kinds of music.
The Al-Tanboura band from Port Said is probably the most famous
simsimiyya band lyrics of the band's songs often consist of old formulas,
elements of religious rituals, popular wisdom and different metaphors.
The dance
Dancing simsimiyya expresses most of all feelings of joy. The dance
movements are brisk and cheerful, and include different charleston-styled
steps.
Men's dancing include impressive jumps, women do hip movements as
well. The dancers also play with spoons, and in Suez,
the performance includes also syncopated clapping, kaff, used only in Suez simsimiyya .
The dresses consist of stylised clothing of different groups of
workers: fishermen, coastguard, bambutiyya .
Suez
folklore troupe, the repertoire consisted mostly of love songs and different
tableaux, among others the "Henna Night of Suez", which is one of the
most famous and most often performed simsimiyya tableaux.
Thats it fellows, hope you enjoyed this one :)
Rotaractly yours
International Understanding Committee
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