Solhi Al-Wadi
Encyclopedia
Solhi Al-Wadi (1934–2007) was an Iraqi-born musician, conductor
, composer
, educator and director, who lived most of his life in Damascus
, Syria
.
on 12 February 1934 to an Iraqi
father and a Jordan
ian mother, who moved to live in Damascus, Syria, when he was a child. He went to Victoria College
, a British boarding school in Alexandria
, Egypt, where he started to study the violin and composition at the local conservatory. In 1953 he was admitted to the Royal Academy of Music
in London to pursue higher studies in music.
In 1960, after graduating, Solhi Al-Wadi returned to Damascus and began work on establishing serious music as part of the fine arts scene in Syria. In 1962 he founded the Arab Institute of Music and was appointed its director. He established relations with several foreign countries, especially the former Soviet Union
, to be able to bring qualified teachers in all disciplines and instruments, to teach Syrian youngsters, who were interested in learning music. In 2004 the Arab Institute of Music was re-named the Solhi Al-Wadi Institute of Music.
In 1990, after years of negotiating with the Syrian Ministry of Culture
and other necessary instances, he succeeded in fulfilling his dream of opening The High Institute of Music and Theater, which provides musicians, theater students and dancers in Syria with higher education, without needing to go abroad to study, and he was appointed its dean. He was also appointed professor of theory, history of music and music appreciation in this institute.
At the same time, through Al-Wadi’s efforts, the Damascus Opera House
– Dar Al-Assad for Culture & Arts – was opened. He was proud of acquiring a German organ especially built for it.
In 1991 another dream of Solhi Al-Wadi’s came true: the founding of the Syrian National Symphony Orchestra, which gave its first concert under his baton in the same year. Soon invitations started pouring in from all over the world, and over the next few years Al-Wadi took the orchestra to perform in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Spain, Turkey, Germany and the USA. And also Al-Wadi himself was invited to conduct orchestras in several countries of the world.
In 1995 Solhi Al-Wadi conducted the first-ever performance of an opera in Syria, Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas
, which was performed at the ancient Roman amphitheaters of Bosra
and Palmyra
for huge crowds of enthusiastic listeners.
Solhi Al-Wadi's immense overall activity, especially his administrative, teaching and performing duties, allowed him limited time for composing, but he cherished those moments when he could satisfy the great urge he had to express himself. He believed that he should contribute to the world of music by whatever means he was capable of. His works are performed enthusiastically by musicians in Syria and other countries. In addition to that he received throughout his artistic life commissions to compose music for Arabic films, something he accepted and fulfilled with pleasure, but even though incidental music brought him fame all over the Arab world, his compositions for chamber ensembles figure among his finest creative achievements.
Solhi Al-Wadi died on the 30th of September 2007 at home in Damascus. He never recovered from a brain hemorrhage which struck him down while conducting the Syrian National Orchestra in a concert on the 27th of April 2002.
His combined role as an educator, director, conductor, and first-class mass-media communicator did not prevent him from continuously composing original music and re-orchestrating major traditional and folklore music suitable for presentation by a large orchestra or other ensembles.
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, educator and director, who lived most of his life in Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
.
Life
Solhi Al-Wadi was born in BaghdadBaghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
on 12 February 1934 to an Iraqi
Iraqi people
The Iraqi people or Mesopotamian people are natives or inhabitants of the country of Iraq, known since antiquity as Mesopotamia , with a large diaspora throughout the Arab World, Europe, the Americas, and...
father and a Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
ian mother, who moved to live in Damascus, Syria, when he was a child. He went to Victoria College
Victoria College, Alexandria
Victoria College, Alexandria, was founded in 1902 under the impetus of the recently ennobled Evelyn Baring, 1st Earl of Cromer of the Barings Bank, that was heavily invested in Egyptian stability. For years the British Consul-General was ex officio on the board of Victoria College...
, a British boarding school in Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, Egypt, where he started to study the violin and composition at the local conservatory. In 1953 he was admitted to the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
in London to pursue higher studies in music.
In 1960, after graduating, Solhi Al-Wadi returned to Damascus and began work on establishing serious music as part of the fine arts scene in Syria. In 1962 he founded the Arab Institute of Music and was appointed its director. He established relations with several foreign countries, especially the former Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, to be able to bring qualified teachers in all disciplines and instruments, to teach Syrian youngsters, who were interested in learning music. In 2004 the Arab Institute of Music was re-named the Solhi Al-Wadi Institute of Music.
In 1990, after years of negotiating with the Syrian Ministry of Culture
Ministry of Culture (Syria)
The Ministry of Culture is a government ministry office of the Syrian Arab Republic, responsible for cultural affairs in Syria.-Ministers of Culture:*Dr. Najah al-Attar *Maha Qanout...
and other necessary instances, he succeeded in fulfilling his dream of opening The High Institute of Music and Theater, which provides musicians, theater students and dancers in Syria with higher education, without needing to go abroad to study, and he was appointed its dean. He was also appointed professor of theory, history of music and music appreciation in this institute.
At the same time, through Al-Wadi’s efforts, the Damascus Opera House
Damascus Opera House
Damascus Opera House is the national opera house of Syria. It is located in central Damascus, on the Umayyad Square. It was inaugurated on May 7, 2004.-History:...
– Dar Al-Assad for Culture & Arts – was opened. He was proud of acquiring a German organ especially built for it.
In 1991 another dream of Solhi Al-Wadi’s came true: the founding of the Syrian National Symphony Orchestra, which gave its first concert under his baton in the same year. Soon invitations started pouring in from all over the world, and over the next few years Al-Wadi took the orchestra to perform in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Spain, Turkey, Germany and the USA. And also Al-Wadi himself was invited to conduct orchestras in several countries of the world.
In 1995 Solhi Al-Wadi conducted the first-ever performance of an opera in Syria, Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas
Dido and Aeneas
Dido and Aeneas is an opera in a prologue and three acts by the English Baroque composer Henry Purcell to a libretto by Nahum Tate. The first known performance was at Josias Priest's girls' school in London no later than the summer of 1688. The story is based on Book IV of Virgil's Aeneid...
, which was performed at the ancient Roman amphitheaters of Bosra
Bosra
Bosra , also known as Bostra, Busrana, Bozrah, Bozra, Busra Eski Şam, Busra ash-Sham, and Nova Trajana Bostra, is an ancient city administratively belonging to the Daraa Governorate in southern Syria...
and Palmyra
Palmyra
Palmyra was an ancient city in Syria. In the age of antiquity, it was an important city of central Syria, located in an oasis 215 km northeast of Damascus and 180 km southwest of the Euphrates at Deir ez-Zor. It had long been a vital caravan city for travellers crossing the Syrian desert...
for huge crowds of enthusiastic listeners.
Solhi Al-Wadi's immense overall activity, especially his administrative, teaching and performing duties, allowed him limited time for composing, but he cherished those moments when he could satisfy the great urge he had to express himself. He believed that he should contribute to the world of music by whatever means he was capable of. His works are performed enthusiastically by musicians in Syria and other countries. In addition to that he received throughout his artistic life commissions to compose music for Arabic films, something he accepted and fulfilled with pleasure, but even though incidental music brought him fame all over the Arab world, his compositions for chamber ensembles figure among his finest creative achievements.
Solhi Al-Wadi died on the 30th of September 2007 at home in Damascus. He never recovered from a brain hemorrhage which struck him down while conducting the Syrian National Orchestra in a concert on the 27th of April 2002.
Legacy
He single-handedly supervised the nurturing of a whole generation of talented young musicians.His combined role as an educator, director, conductor, and first-class mass-media communicator did not prevent him from continuously composing original music and re-orchestrating major traditional and folklore music suitable for presentation by a large orchestra or other ensembles.
Music
- Seven pieces for piano (1958–1965)
- Fantasy for Two Pianos in B-flat Major (1962)
- "Love Poem" for String Orchestra (1966)
- Two Pieces for Violoncello & Piano (?)
- Sonata for Violin & Piano No. 1 (1969) (Score missing)
- "Dabké" – Dance for Symphony Orchestra (1970)
- String Quartet No. 1 (Score missing)
- String Quartet No. 2 (1974)
- Trio for Piano, Violin & Violoncello, in memory of Dmitri Shostakovich (1975):
- Sonata for Violin & Piano No. 2 in A Minor (early 1980s)
- Concert Overture for Symphony Orchestra in C Major (1987)
- Meditation on a Theme by Mhammad Abdel Wahhab "Hayati anta" for Symphony orchestra (1992)
- Piece "-5" for Clarinet Solo (1999)
- Song "The Mummy" for Soprano & Piano (2000) (Poet unknown)
- Incidental and film music (spanning Al-Wadi's creative life)
Awards
- 1995 Order of Merit, Syria’s highest civilian award
- 1999 honorary doctorate from The Yerevan Komitas State ConservatoryYerevan State Musical ConservatoryYerevan State Musical Conservatory or Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory, is a conservatory located in Yerevan, Armenia. It was founded in 1921 as a music studio, and re-founded two years later as a higher musical education institution.-History:...
(Armenia) - 2000 honorary doctorate from The Russian Academy of Arts and Sciences
- 2001 Medal of Sts. Peter and Paul awarded by His Holiness Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul IIBlessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
, during his Millennium Tour visit to Syria
External links
- Digital Journal - Solhi Al-Wadi, doyen of Syrian classical music, dies at 75
- ECUME Echanges Culturels en Méditerranée, Hommage à Solhi Al-Wadi
- Syrian National Symphony Orchestra - Solhi Al-Wadi
- Newsletter Of The Delegation Of The European Commission In Syria - Tribute to a Father
- Washington Report on Middle East Affairs - Syrian Symphony Scores Success in California Debut