Arabian sawt
Sawt Shami, performed by Muhammad Zwayyid (vocals and ud), Raashid Bin Sanad (mirwas). Recorded in Abu Dhabi March 1975. From Sowt: Music from the city, recorded by Simon Jargy (VDE CD-782).
From the album notes:
Muhammad Zuwayyid (about 70 in 1975, now deceased) was probably the last master of the sowt. Recording begins with taqsim (bayati on D) leading to a mawwal section, and finally a metric section in 8 beats, featuring rhythmic syncopations produced by mirwas and claps.
Poem in classical Arabic uses double hemistiches (misra`) and rhyme "bi". Each stanza is two verses followed by a third refrain line on a modulating melodic phrase (tawshiha). Concludes in maqam rast on C.
Poem:
They say: a cross adorns her chest.
I respond: thus the Messiah, her prophet, is my beloved.
O cross, I do not dislike you for a religious cause,
But out of jealousy to see you between her full breasts.
O vessel casting anchor in a haven of marble.
While the waves roar in the darkness of my wanderings,
Did she ever heed me, heed the desire (burning) in my chest?
Heed my loving passion and my moaning?
I used to say of love: it is but a wild dream,
Til I saw your eyes which undid me.
