“Lovers, oh night, have deserted their beds and gathered, oh night, and I among them. Yes, all of them left their beds and gathered to listen to Umm Kalthum.”
Umm Kalthum, “The Star of the East,” sings “Al Atlal” (the ruins).
Update: Hana has done some reading and has sent me additional knowledge about Umm Kalthum which is very interesting:
It is known that she had the ability to sing as low as the second octave, as well as the ability to sing as high as between the seventh and the eighth octaves at her vocal peak; yet she also could easily sing over a range surpassing two octaves near the end of her career. Her remarkable ability to produce approximately 14,000 vibrations per second with her vocal chords, her unparalleled vocal strength (no commercial microphone utilized for singing could withstand its strength, forcing her to stand at a 1- to 3-meter radius away from one), and her voice’s unique and breathtaking beauty that surpassed convention arguably made her the most incomparable voice of all time. With Her ability and capability to sing every single Arabic scale (more) makes her one of the 4 only women in the history of the Arab World to be able to do this along with Asmahan, Fairouz, and Sabah. source
Here is an article from Time regarding Um Kalthum’s funeral. In Cairo, I was also told that Umm Kalthum’s voice was so amazing that a group of researchers requested permission to analyze her vocal chords after her death. Since her Islam did not allow this, the exact source of her voice alluded direct scientific investigation.
Update II: Hana has sent me additional knowledge about Arabic music which is very fascinating and which I highly recommend. Look:
Arab classical music is known for its famed virtuoso singers, who sing long, elaborately ornamented, melismatic tunes, and who are known for driving audiences into ecstasy. Its traditions come from pre-Islam days, when female singing slaves entertained the wealthy, and inspired warriors on the battlefield with their rajaz poetry; the also performed at weddings and later, for the hajj. Male performers were limited to mukhanathin, or transvestite slaves, who were scorned by most Muslims. Early Islam largely looked down upon music, and considered it sinful and vile. Music in most of the Arab countries is entirely secular in nature.source
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