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Anniversary
of Mohammad Al-Mougi: A Prominent Composer |
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Mohammad
Al-Mougi is a prominent contemporary composer who enriched
Egyptian artistic life for almost half a century. Born
on March 4,1923 in the north Delta Town of Biala, M.
Al-Mougi adored music since his early childhood, as
his father was fond of music and skilled at playing
Oud(lute). His uncle, too, loved art and had a library
of musical and lyrical records of the great stars of
the time, such as Sheikh Youssef Almanyalawi, Abdel
Hay Hilmy, Munira Almahdya and Umm Kalthoum. Al-Mougi
used to spend a great part of his leisure time listening
to those rare records. |
His
love for music was so overwhelming that he changed his
career from agronomy to art. In view of his fine singing
voice and strong encouragement by his relatives and
friends, he was stimulated to pursue his artistic course.He
was fascinated with the leading composer Abdel Wahab. |
Al-Mougi
learnt playing the lute and acquainted himself with
the musical keys and harmony. He approached Radio Cairo
for approval as a singer, but his creative talent as
a composer overshadowed his talent as a singer. |
Al-Mougi
composed music for almost all radio singers, Egyptians
and Arabs, of whom many became famous through his melodies.
He is considered one of the most proficient and expressive
lute players, He was influenced by two leading lute
players: the proficient Mohammad Al Qasabgi and Riad
As-Sunbaty.
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Major
Works: |
As
a prolific artist, Al-Mougi took part in all cinema,
TV, radio and theatrical productions. He composed some
musical pieces such as: "Banat Bahary" besides program
music for two films "The Dancer Girl and The Drummer"
and "The Gang". |
In
1954,Al-Mougi made his first composition for the most
renowned singer Umm-Kalthoum,widely known as the star
of the Orient namely the national song "Egypt, the Right
Has Come Back". She later performed seven songs for
Al-Mougi,of which the last was "Ask Yourself" in 1970. |
He contributed to musical Theatre. His musical composition
"The Gift Of Life" was presented by the Musical Theatre
Troupe and "Hassan the shrewd" " Widad The Gypsy", "Himdan
And Bahana"by the lyrical show Troupe.
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In the cinematic field Al-Mougi participated in films
of big stars such as Abdel-Halim Hafez, Shadia, Sabah,
Nor-Alhuda, Warda, Fayza Ahmed, Muharram Fouad, MaherAI-Attar
among others. In 1970, he played acting and singing
parts in two films "A Love Journey" and "Myself and
My Heart".
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Al-Mougi also composed some children's melodies such
as "You Became As Tall As Me ". He composed some songs
and program music of TV series such as "Curlew Prayers"
which included 20 of Almougy's melodies sung by Amira
Salem.
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In 1960 he founded "Al-Mougi School" for music and singing
where the basics of art were taught and some singers
who later gained fame, graduated such as Adel-Maamoun,
Maher AI-Attar, Muharram Fouad and Maha Sabry.
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Al-Mougi left a strong impact on contemporary art life
both through teaching and introducing new generations
of singers.
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During his life time, Al-Mougi receivied several awards
and orders of merit from Egypt and other Arab states,inculding
the order of Merit of the first class awarded to him
by President Mohammad Anwar Al-Sadat.
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