Tarek Ali Hassan
Encyclopedia
Dr. Tarek Ali Hassan is a professor of Medicine and Chief of Endocrinology
at Al-Azhar University
in Cairo. He is also a composer
, musician
, writer
, painter
, and philosopher
. His music, in a modern polyphonic
style, has been performed in Egypt
and in many countries.
Hassan has published major dramatic works in English and in Arabic. Soliman: An Egyptian Drama is conceived as an experimental total theatre experience. He has also published Towards a Philosophy of Pluralism and Complementarity. He was a founding member of the People Not Psychiatry Society, the Egyptian Society for Group Training, and the Friends of the Opera Society.
He is chairman of the Zenab Kamel Hassan Foundation for Holistic Human Development, which works on human development and empowerment issues in the Imbaba
district of Cairo.
Tarek Hassan's philosophy involves a deep belief in that human beings are a unique evolutionary breakthrough. He is a dedicated critic of static models in science, and in the humanities. To him the model of Homo sapiens sapiens is not Achilles
or Agamemnon
but Osiris
, Mozart, and Gandhi. He believes that survival and thriving by creativity is a major unique human breakthrough which is destroyed by violence. The key to interactive creativity which is the survival secret of the species and the real breakthrough, is non-violence to self, other-self and Nature. Humans at large have misunderstood human nature. The whole socio-political forces operate against consciousness of and acceptance of integrated interactive non-violent human nature. The tragedy is so deep that violence has become "normal" and "glorious" and an accepted channel to power and to "peace". This philosophy is also enshrined in his total theatre dramas, some of which were performed in the student drama festivals in London and Durham as well as at the Edinburgh Festival
during the 1960s.
Some of Hassan's musical works have become repertoire at the Cairo Opera, such as the Symphonic Suite: Al Mansoura, The Fanfare for the Opera, and the Sinfonietta for Strings, as well as several chamber works including the Piano Quartet (which is dedicated to Marianne von Grunigen), and the cello sonata.
In 1991, he was presented with France's highest arts decoration: he was made a Commander in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
(Order of Arts and Literature), the highest rank for this award, for "his services to International Culture, drama and International communication and violence-resolution.
Endocrinology
Endocrinology is a branch of biology and medicine dealing with the endocrine system, its diseases, and its specific secretions called hormones, the integration of developmental events such as proliferation, growth, and differentiation and the coordination of...
at Al-Azhar University
Al-Azhar University
Al-Azhar University is an educational institute in Cairo, Egypt. Founded in 970~972 as a madrasa, it is the chief centre of Arabic literature and Islamic learning in the world. It is the oldest degree-granting university in Egypt. In 1961 non-religious subjects were added to its curriculum.It is...
in Cairo. He is also a 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...
, musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, and philosopher
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
. His music, in a modern polyphonic
Polyphony
In music, polyphony is a texture consisting of two or more independent melodic voices, as opposed to music with just one voice or music with one dominant melodic voice accompanied by chords ....
style, has been performed in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and in many countries.
Hassan has published major dramatic works in English and in Arabic. Soliman: An Egyptian Drama is conceived as an experimental total theatre experience. He has also published Towards a Philosophy of Pluralism and Complementarity. He was a founding member of the People Not Psychiatry Society, the Egyptian Society for Group Training, and the Friends of the Opera Society.
He is chairman of the Zenab Kamel Hassan Foundation for Holistic Human Development, which works on human development and empowerment issues in the Imbaba
Imbaba
Imbaba is a neighbourhood in northern Cairo, Egypt, located west of the Nile and northwest of and near Gezira Island and downtown Cairo, within the Giza Governorate...
district of Cairo.
Tarek Hassan's philosophy involves a deep belief in that human beings are a unique evolutionary breakthrough. He is a dedicated critic of static models in science, and in the humanities. To him the model of Homo sapiens sapiens is not Achilles
Achilles
In Greek mythology, Achilles was a Greek hero of the Trojan War, the central character and the greatest warrior of Homer's Iliad.Plato named Achilles the handsomest of the heroes assembled against Troy....
or Agamemnon
Agamemnon
In Greek mythology, Agamemnon was the son of King Atreus and Queen Aerope of Mycenae, the brother of Menelaus, the husband of Clytemnestra, and the father of Electra and Orestes. Mythical legends make him the king of Mycenae or Argos, thought to be different names for the same area...
but Osiris
Osiris
Osiris is an Egyptian god, usually identified as the god of the afterlife, the underworld and the dead. He is classically depicted as a green-skinned man with a pharaoh's beard, partially mummy-wrapped at the legs, wearing a distinctive crown with two large ostrich feathers at either side, and...
, Mozart, and Gandhi. He believes that survival and thriving by creativity is a major unique human breakthrough which is destroyed by violence. The key to interactive creativity which is the survival secret of the species and the real breakthrough, is non-violence to self, other-self and Nature. Humans at large have misunderstood human nature. The whole socio-political forces operate against consciousness of and acceptance of integrated interactive non-violent human nature. The tragedy is so deep that violence has become "normal" and "glorious" and an accepted channel to power and to "peace". This philosophy is also enshrined in his total theatre dramas, some of which were performed in the student drama festivals in London and Durham as well as at the Edinburgh Festival
Edinburgh Festival
The Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for many arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland each summer, mostly in August...
during the 1960s.
Some of Hassan's musical works have become repertoire at the Cairo Opera, such as the Symphonic Suite: Al Mansoura, The Fanfare for the Opera, and the Sinfonietta for Strings, as well as several chamber works including the Piano Quartet (which is dedicated to Marianne von Grunigen), and the cello sonata.
In 1991, he was presented with France's highest arts decoration: he was made a Commander in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres is an Order of France, established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture, and confirmed as part of the Ordre national du Mérite by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963...
(Order of Arts and Literature), the highest rank for this award, for "his services to International Culture, drama and International communication and violence-resolution.
External links
- http://www.tarekalihassan.org
- http://www.tarekalihassan.com
- http://www.thruminate.blogspot.com