Beirut, the largest city in Lebanon, has long been a thriving metropolis, known, especially in a period immediately following World War 2, for its European-style art and intellectualism. Several singers emerged in this period, most famously including Fairuz, an orthodox Christian from Beirut and Nasri Shamseddine. During the seventeen year civil war, most of the Lebanese music stars moved to Cairo or Paris, with a large music scene in Beirut only returning after 1992. Modern stars include Ragheb Alama , Walid Tawfiq , Wael Kfoury , Nancy Ajram, Melhem Zein , Fadel Shaker , and the so-called Lebanese Marilyn Monroe Haifa Wehbe.
The underground music scene is equally vibrant, spearheaded by rock-pop duo Soap Kills but expanding to include a number of groups from a wide array of genres. Underground Arab hip hop groups, such as Rayess Bek and Kitaayoun in particular are growing in popularity. The annual Fête de la Musique , held in late June, brings the whole country out for organized and spontaneous underground concerts.
Music has played an important role in Lebanese cultural and religious traditions for millenia. In addition to the voice, traditional music incorporates instruments such as the oud, the derbake (a kind of drum also known as the tabla), and the ney.
The Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music is the heart of the classical music world in Lebanon, and home to both the Lebanese National Symphony Orchestra and the Lebanese National Orchestra for Oriental Arabic Music .
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References
- Badley, Bill and Zein al Jundi. "Europe Meets Asia". 2000. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), World Music, Vol. 1: Africa, Europe and the Middle East, pp 391-395. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. ISBN 1-85828-636-0
Last updated: 05-13-2005 07:56:04
