Tawfiq al-Basha

Tawfiq al-Basha (1924 - 2005) was a pioneer of Arabic music and one of the creative leaders of Lebanon who left a rich legacy in music, art, and radio production. He was one of those who made an effective contribution to the revival of Lebanese and Arab song and left behind a large and important musical school, from which groups of musicians and artists graduated. He is a shining star among the stars of Lebanese Radio.

Summary
He was born in the city of Beirut in 1924. He studied music at the American University's Music Institute in Beirut on the violoncello instrument. He continued his studies in global musical composition with Professor Bertrand Robillard. In 1949, he was entrusted with the management of the music department at Radio Jerusalem from Ramallah. In 1951, he joined the "Middle Eastern Ballet" as a composer and conductor of the orchestra, dedicating himself to musical composition and singing, and conducting the orchestra. The company presented its works on stages: Cairo Opera House, Baghdad, Jerusalem, Damascus, and in Indian cities: Bombay, Calcutta, New Delhi, during two years. In 1953, he took over the responsibility for music production at Radio "Middle East Broadcasting" until it stopped in 1956. He has written many articles on Arabic music, mawwal, song, and the art of takht, published in Al-Hadatha magazine.

Marriage
Al-Basha married the artist Waddah, and fathered the musician Abdul Rahman al-Basha, Rima al-Basha, and Randah al-Basha. The late artist discussed even the smallest details with him, then later separated from her and married the artist Nahla Hashim, sister of the artist Saad Hashim, who was known in the 1960s.

Works

Activities
He was one of the founders of the Lebanese Nights at the International Baalbek Festival, working as a musical composer and conductor of the orchestra in the years 1957-1959-1964-1974.
He founded with his colleagues, under the patronage of Said Freiha in 1960 "The World Lights Orchestra", which presented its performances in addition to "Lebanon Casino Theater" in Cyprus, Vienna, Frankfurt, Wiesbaden, Paris, Cairo, Alexandria, Kuwait, Amman, and Baalbek. He was a shared member as a responsible person and musical composer and conductor.
In 1961, he was entrusted with the presidency of the Music Department at Lebanese Radio.
He organized teaching in the subject of mawwal at the National Higher Institute for Music in Lebanon, making it an essential scientific subject.
President of the Association of Composers, Lyricists, and Publishers of Music in Lebanon between 1969-1986 and was the honorary president of the association.
Chairman of the National Committee for Music (UNESCO) from 1986 to 2000.
He was a permanent member of the Arab Music Council (Arab League) since its establishment in 1970.

Compositional Works

He composed musical compositions for most poets in Lebanon and some Arab poets, producing hundreds of songs and poems between 1959-1981 for prominent Lebanese and Arab singers.
In 1962, he began writing melodies and music for more than 3,000 Arabic literary poems, distributed on radio and television programs, from the Jahiliyya era to the Abbasid era, including: "The Nights of Al-Isfahani in the Book of Songs", "Arab Music Sessions", "Nights of Scheherazade", "Pearls of Melody", "Geniuses of Singing among Arabs", "Ashaab and al-Kandi", "Joha".

Symphonic Works

Symphony "Night" based on the poetry of Said Aql 1953.
Symphony "Above the Violet: The Uniqueness" (National Music Institute Award) 1969.
Symphony "Beirut 82" (about the Israeli invasion of Beirut) 1983.
Symphony "Peace" 1985-1986. It was performed by the Philharmonic Orchestra of the City of Liege in Liege, Brussels, and Verviers in 1988.
The triptych "For the Instrument"

Note: The translation is direct from the Arabic text without any additional information or commentary.