Husayn al-A‘dhami حسين الاعظمي

Husayn Isma‘il Salih al-‘Ubaydi al-A‘dhami was born in 1952 in Baghdad (al-A‘dhamiyya neighborhood) to a family of musicians. His grandfather's great knowledge is quoted in historical works. His father was a famous hymn composer. He started his career in 1972 as a hymn composer and profane cantor by interpreting the Penjigah maqam at the Baghdad Museum theater, before making his debut on radio in 1974, with the Mukhalaf and Hakimi modes. He received his diploma in musicology in 1979 from the University of Baghdad and the Institute of Musical Studies. Al-A‘dhami has always defended the colors of the scholarly music of his country, while selecting poems that are close to contemporary preoccupations. As a neo-classical poet, conference speaker and music critic, he has written several works that have not been published because of the current political situation. He has also toured throughout the world with the Iraqi heritage group.

*

Maqam Urfa and Dishdasha Subgh il Nil
Husayn al-A‘dhami and al-Chalghi al-Baghdadi
c. 1975, Baghdad, Iraq.

مقام اورفه و بسته دشداشه صبغ النيل. اداء قارئ المقام حسين اسماعيل الاعظمي وفرقه الچالغي البغدادي (الجوزه: حسن النقيب، السنطور: سعد عبد اللطيف العبيدي، الطبله: سامي عبد الاحد جرجيس) من منتصف السبعينات. الشعر المغنى تخميس من قصائد مختلفه:

الحب ديني و والصبابة تذكر * و الحسن عنكم و الملاحة تعثر

و حياتكم قسما يذاع و ينشر * عيني لغير جمالكم لا تنظر

و سواكم في خاطري لا يخطر

امضيت عمري في الغرام لعلني * دوما بودكم اروح و انثني

انتم حياتي في الغرام و انني * خبرت قلبي عنكم فآجابني

لا صبر لي لا صبر لأصبر

كيف السبيل و قد عدمت تفكري * و ازداد وجدي فيكم و تفكري

و غدوت من شوقي اقول لهاجري * لا صبر لي حتى يراكم ناظري

و على محبتكم اموت و احشر

Love is my religion, and love cannot be denied.

Your beauty and prettiness are incomparable.

My eyes look at no other beauty but yours.

Nor does any one other than you pass by my conscience.

I spent my years hoping for your love and affection.

In love you are my life.

I told my heart about you and it answered,

"No longer can I endure".

How am I to find my way to your love?

I am void of any thought;

Whilst my passion increases.

Out of despair and yearning, I tell my beloved,

"If I see you not,

I will be lost, and I will die loving you".

Vocals: Husayn al-A‘dhami

Joza: Hasan Ali al-Naqib
Santur: Sa‘ad Abdul Latif al-Ubaydi
Tabla: Sami Abdul Ahad Jarjis

*

Maqam Panjigah

Husayn al-A‘dhami and Iraqi Maqam Ensemble

2004, Netherlands

Husayn Isma‘il Salih al-A‘dhami (born 1952) is regarded as one of the most renowned Iraqi maqam singers of the modern age. Indeed, he has played an important role in the preservation of this genre of Iraqi song and music tradition. He has also played an important role in the spread of this genre all over the world; hence the Iraqi Ministry of Culture has bestowed him with the title "The Ambassador of Iraqi Maqam".

* Recordings courtesy of Husayn al-A‘dhami and Muhammad Gomar (Iraqi Maqam Ensemble in the Netherlands).

سفير المقام العراقي حسين اسماعيل صالح العبيدي الاعظمي مع فرقه المقام العراقي في هولندا (عازف الجوزه محمد حسين گمر، السنطور: وسام ايوب العزاوي، الرق والنقاره: عبد اللطيف سعد العبيدي، الطبله: كريم درويش). مقام بنجگاه و اغنيه تراثيه بغداديه هالليله حلوه. الشعر من قصيده هيكل الشهوات للشاعر الياس ابو شبكه:

ما لي ارى القلب في عينيك يلتهبُ * أليس للنار يا أخت الشقا سبب؟

بعض القلوب ثمار ما يزال بها * عَرْفُ الجنان و لكن بعضها حطب

صبي الخمور و لا تبقي على مهج * موج الشباب على رجليك يغتصب

صبي الخمور فهذا العصر عصر قلل * اما السكارى فهم ابناءه النجب

لا تقنطي ان رايت ِ الكأس فارغة * ففي كل عام ينضج العنب

Classical Arabic poetry by Lebanese poet Elias Abu Shabaka

I wonder why my heart is set ablaze,

Whenever I look into your eyes.

Is there no cause, O my tormentor?

The fruits of some hearts have the odour of paradise,

Whilst some other hearts are just wood.

Pour the wine and do not spare our souls a drop,

For the bloom of youth is, on your foot, raped.

Pour the wine; this is the age of wine.

Drunkards are its noble sons.

Despair not when you see an empty cup,

Grapes ripe at all times.

Tell him, "You have come to the age of wine;

Drink nothing, therefore, but liquor,

And be pale as is its colour."

Hel Laila Hilwa (Tonight is Lovely)
Traditional Baghdadi song in rast mode and 4/4 wahda rhythm

بسته بغداديه (هالليله حلوه) من نغم الرست و ايقاع الوحده ٤/٤

(Iraqi vernacular)

Tonight is lovely;

Lovely and beautiful.

Welcome to you who was away.

My heart, because of your departure,

Has tasted all bitterness.

Welcome to you and to your companions.

My heart, before my eyes, embraces you.

Vocals: Husayn al-A‘dhami
Santur: Wisam Ayub al-‘Azzawi
Joza: Muhammad Hussein Gumar
Tabla: Karim Darwish
Raqq and naqqara: Abdul Latif al-‘Ubaydi

*

Maqam Chahargah and Minnak Yal Asmar
Husayn al-A‘dhami and the Iraqi Maqam Ensemble

This principal maqam is based on the chahargah mode and is sung to a qasida in classical Arabic. Its music is accompanied by the 12/4 yugrug rhythm.

الشعر المغنى هو تخميس من قصائد صوفية عدة يكثر اداءها في الاذكار الدينية العراقية

الحب ديني و والصبابة تذكر * و الحسن عنكم و الملاحة تعثر

و حياتكم قسما يذاع و ينشر * عيني لغير جمالكم لا تنظر

و سواكم في خاطري لا يخطر

امضيت عمري في الغرام لعلني * دوما بودكم اروح و انثني

انتم حياتي في الغرام و انني * خبرت قلبي عنكم فآجابني

لا صبر لي لا صبر لأصبر

كيف السبيل و قد عدمت تفكري * و ازداد وجدي فيكم و تفكري

و غدوت من شوقي اقول لهاجري * لا صبر لي حتى يراكم ناظري

و على محبتكم اموت و احشر

The sung poetry is a takhmis of different Sufi poems.

Love is my religion, and love cannot be denied.

Your beauty and prettiness are incomparable.

My eyes look at no other beauty but yours.

Nor does any one other than you pass by my conscience.

I spent my years hoping for your love and affection.

In love you are my life.

I told my heart about you and it answered,

"No longer can I endure".

How am I to find my way to your love?

I am void of any thought;

Whilst my passion increases.

Out of despair and yearning, I tell my beloved,

"If I see you not,

I will be lost, and I will die loving you".

All are asleep but me.

I struggle with the yearning of love.

When you ask about my state.

I say, "I'm enchanted and distracted by love".

Mُinnak yal Asmar, traditional song in ajam mode and 10/16 jurjina rhythm, composed by Salih al-Kuwaiti, lyrics by ‘Abdul Karim al-‘Allaf.

بسته (منك يا الاسمر) اغنيه تراثيه من نغم العجم و ايقاع الجورجينا ١٦/١٠. من الحان صالح الكويتي و كلمات عبد الكريم العلاف

كل لحظه امر عليك بلچن اشوفك * لو شجو ايدي بليط لا تظن اعوفك

منك يا الاسمر گلبي تفظر * تسلب ارواح الناس لمن تمر مر

(Iraqi Vernacular)

Every moment I come to your place,

Hoping of seeing you.

I won't leave you,

Even if they cut my hands into pieces.

You've set my heart ablaze,

O' black-eyed beauty!

Whenever you pass by,

People's hearts beat hard.

My love lives in Baghdad.

Take the beauty far away,

Least I might be enchanted.

Her cheeks are like cold buttermilk,

Quenching the thirsty in a summer's day.

Vocals: Husayn al-A‘dhami
Santur: Wisam Ayub al-‘Azzawi
Joza: Muhammad Hussein Gumar
Tabla: Karim Darwish
Raqq and naqqara: Abdul Latif al-‘Ubaydi

*

Maqam Nahawand and Bazringosh
Husayn al-A‘dhami and the Iraqi Maqam Ensemble

القصيده منسوبه الى يزيد بن معاوية:

مدت مواشطها في كفها شركا * تصيد قلبي به من داخل الجسد

نالت على يدها مالم تنله يدي * نقشا على معصم أوهت به جلدي

أنيسة لو رأتها الشمس ما طلعت * من بعد رؤيتها يوما على أحد

سالتها الوصل قالت:لاتغر بنا * من رام منا وصالا مات بالكمد

قد خلفتني طريحا وهي قائلة * تأملوا كيف فعل الظبي بالأسد

واسترجعت سألت عني فقيل لها * مافيه من رمق فدقت يدأَ بيد

وأمطرت لؤلؤا من نرجسِ وسقت * ورداً وعضت على العناب بالبرد

وأنشدت بلسان الحال قائلة * من غير كره ولا مطل ولا مدد

والله ماحزنت اخت لفقد اخ * حزني عليه ولا أم على ولد

إن يحسدوني على موتي فواأسفي * حتى من الموت لا أخلو من الحسد

Classical Arabic poetry attributed to the Ummayad Caliph Yazid bin Mu‘awiya (645-683)

She spreads her plaits like a net,

To hunt my heart.

Her beauty renders sunshine dispensable.

I made advances to her.

She warned me:

"Whoever seeks my love is doomed to gloom."

She left me motionless;

"Look what has a deer done to a lion!"

After a moment's reflection,

She asked about me.

"He has no spark of life," she was told.

She cried; rains of pearls, pouring out of narcissus,

Watered her rosy cheeks, and hails so white,

Bit lips like jujube!

"No sister has ever been grieved for the loss of a brother,

Nor a mother has ever been bereaved,

Are as sad as me," she said.

People envy me even for my death!

بزرنكَوش - حسين الاعظمي - تراث بغدادي

يالزارع البزرنگوش * ازرع لنا حنه * حنه حنه

و جمالنا غربن واويلي * للشام و ما جنه * جنه جنه

ومحملات بذهب واويلي * فوك الذهب حنه * حنه حنه

دك الحديد على الحديد واويلي * تسمع له رنه * رنه رنه

يا محبوبي جرحتني * داويني

يالزارع البزرنگوش * ازرع لنا حنه * حنه حنه

جرحك يا گلب * خزن و لا تسچينه

يالزارع البزرنگوش * ازرع لنا حنه * حنه حنه

(Iraqi Vernacular)

You who plants Bazringosh,

Plant henna instead!

Our cameleers carrying gold on top of henna,

have left west for al-Shaam.

They came back not!

Strike iron upon iron;

It will resonate.

Oh, my love,

You have wounded me.

Oh, my heart,

Your wound has grown,

and there is no chance of healing.

*

Maqam Dasht and Fraghum Bachchani

Husayn al-A‘dhami and the Iraqi Maqam Ensemble

شعر وضاح اليمن

قالت إلا لاتلجن دارنا * إن أبانا رجل غائر

فقلتُ إني طالب غرة منه * وسيفي صارم باتر

قالت فليث رابض بيننا * فقلت إني أسد عاقر

قالت فحولي إخوة سبعة * قلت فإني غالب قاهر

قالت فإن القصر من دوننا * قلت فإني فوقه ضاهر

قالت فإن الله من فوقنا * قلت فربي راحم غافر

قالت لقد أعييتنا حجة * فاتي اذا ماهجع السامر

وأسقط علينا كسقوط الندى * ليلة لاناه ولا زاجر

Classical poetry by Wadhah al-Yaman followed by an abudhiyya (folk poem) in Iraqi dialect

She said, "Beware of entering our house;

My father is a fighter."

I said, "I am after a cause and my sword is very sharp."

She said, "There is a sea between you and me."

"I am a skillful swimmer," I answered.

She said, "There is also this huge palace."

I replied, "I know how to enter it."

She said, "I have seven brothers,"

I replied, "I am a resilient swordsman."

She said, "I have no other excuse;

Come like the fall of dew,

When all are asleep and no vigilant is there to watch!"

(bayat mode and 6/4 sengin sama'i rhythm)

فراگهم بچاني - حسين الاعظمي - تراث عراقي

نغم بيات و ايقاع سنگين سماعي ٤/٦

فراگهم بچاني * چالماطليه بالضلع

بيك اشترك دلالي * يگلون حبي زعلان

آه يا گهوتك عزاوي * بيهه المدلل زعلان

سلم عليه من بعيد * و حواجبه هلال العيد

ممنون گلي شماتريد * سواها بيه سلمان

بيك اشترك دلالي * يگلون حبي زعلان

آه يا گهوتك عزاوي * بيهه المدلل زعلان

لاركض وراهم حافي * و عبيتي على چتافي

بوسه من الاسمر كافي * سواها بيه سلمان

بيك اشترك دلالي * يگلون حبي زعلان

آه يا گهوتك عزاوي * بيهه المدلل زعلان

(Iraqi Vernacular)

Her parting made me cry.

You occupied my thought.

They say my love is upset with me.

My spoiled love is at Azzawi's cafe;

He's upset with me.

From a distance, she greeted me.

Like the Eid's crescent are her eyebrows.

I'm at your disposal.

Tell me whatever you wish.

Salman has betrayed me!

They say my love is at Azzawi's cafe;

He's upset with me.

Barefoot I go after my love,

Throwing my gown on my shoulders.

Just one look from my love would satisfy me,

Salman has betrayed me!

They say my love is at Azzawi's cafe;

He is upset with me.

*

Vocals: Husayn al-A‘dhami
Santur: Wisam Ayub al-‘Azzawi
Joza: Muhammad Hussein Gumar
Tabla: Karim Darwish
Raqq and naqqara: Abdul Latif al-‘Ubaydi