Tarek Abdallah
Tarek Abdallah | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1975 Alexandria, Egypt |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, music scholar |
| Known for | Oud performance, composition, musicological research |
Tarek Abdallah is a French-based Egyptian musician specializing in the oud, as well as a composer and scholar of music.
Biography
Abdallah was born in 1975 in Alexandria, where he developed an early interest in the oud, although he only began playing at the age of 19 due to initial family resistance. He received instruction from the Alexandrian oud expert Hazem Shaheen and underwent rigorous training to become part of The Arabic Oud House in Cairo, an institution established by Iraqi oud virtuoso Naseer Shamma, from which he graduated with distinction. Since 2001, Abdallah has resided in Marseille and pursued academic research in musicology at Lumière University Lyon 2. His studies concentrate on the virtuosity found in Egyptian music between 1904 and 1932, examining developments in style, ornamentation, and instrumental methods. He has also taught masterclasses throughout various Arabic countries. In 2015, he released his first album, Wasla, featuring collaboration with percussionist Adel Shams El-Din.
Style
The album Wasla is inspired by the Nahda (Renaissance) period spanning 1910 to 1930 and is structured around the waslah format—a suite performed within a single mode but incorporating diverse rhythmic patterns. Abdallah’s work departs from traditional Nahda music by focusing exclusively on instrumental pieces. The recording showcases intricate rhythms, some of which are either rarely used or newly crafted within this musical tradition. The French publication Les Inrockuptibles commended Abdallah for his “restrained and elegant performance, featuring a pure and unadorned melody, free from superfluity, and marked by impeccable artistic integrity.”
External links
- Official website
- Concert of Tarek Abdallah and Adel Shams El-Din, 14 July 2014 (46 minutes)
- Interview of Tarek Abdallah in English