The Egyptian vocalist Sheikh Mahmoud Al-Tohamy emphasized that the audience for religious chants is not limited to the elderly, as a large segment of the audience of this spiritual artistic color is young, indicating the importance of the role that culture and arts can play in alleviating the pressures imposed by the current circumstances. .
In his interview with Emirates Today, Al-Tohamy said: “The majority in my audience are almost young, who are tired of the cruelty of the material world, and sought to find their misfortune in spirituality because I am close to the social condition in which they live, and I can understand that and express it through my chanting. It is their goal, and we meet together in a spiritual state that we live together. ”
He stressed the importance of renewing the continuity of success, while making sure to combine modernization and maintain his own style at the same time, pointing to his recent mixing of chants in classical Arabic with high-end meanings with multiple musical cultures, such as jazz, rock, pop, house and rai, while preserving the character Traditional, authentic and all cultures of artistic peoples.
An invitation to join hands
Al-Tohamy expressed his happiness at the revival of a virtual singing evening last Saturday as part of the campaign # Culture Humanity_United_Make good, which was launched by the Abu Dhabi Culture and Arts Group to revive evenings through social networks to celebrate the blessed month of Ramadan, in light of these exceptional circumstances that the world is living in the spread of the Corona virus, In which everyone is united to get out of the crisis.
He noted the important role that human and cultural creativity plays in mitigating the effects of this exceptional circumstance; Culture is an important weapon in the current battle of the world. The Egyptian vocalist called on various cultural institutions, artists and creators to join hands in order to alleviate everyone, by reviving concerts via live broadcast on social media.
An alternative to direct
On the difference between the direct parties that he used to perform in the past on the one hand, and the digital parties that have become an alternative in light of the precautionary measures to limit the spread of the new Corona virus, he said: “Everyone knows that when I am singing, I will break away from everything around me and seek my soul, and this is one of The most important main reasons that contributed to the great audience's attachment to the color I offer from chanting, and this situation has not changed with the live broadcast via social media; The fans live in my own condition, and this is evident in the audience’s interaction with the live broadcasting parties. ”
Neglecting ends
Mahmoud Al-Tohamy saw that «the current generation of chanting youth, compared to the previous generation, cared about the means and neglected the goals, and was interested in being famous and known more than his interest in the art that will leave him from chanting. This contributed to the emergence of some stars in the chanting artistic scene, whose reputation is greater than its vocal and spiritual capabilities.
He explained, “This was one of the main reasons for establishing a school to teach the art of chanting for free with academic content, but the largest part of it is to stir spirituality in students a great deal and educate and teach them to take care of the goals while observing the means, but the goals remain the supreme reason, and I always tell them: we are the means and God And his Messenger is the end. ”
campaign
The Abu Dhabi Culture and Arts Group launched its campaign # Culture is Human_United_United, well on its digital platforms and accounts on social media, which include a series of cultural and artistic events to celebrate the blessed month of Ramadan, and in an effort to enhance human solidarity and community solidarity by supporting culture, arts and education, and in commitment to a comprehensive national response In the face of the difficult situation that humanity is going through, which is the spread of the Corona epidemic.
Among the most prominent names that participate in the Ramadan events program are international vocalist Sami Yusuf, Sheikh Mahmoud Al-Tohamy and Lebanese Soprano Heba Al-Kawas.
"The chants of the singers have emerged on the scene with more fame than their vocal and spiritual potential."
"I mix traditional chant in standard Arabic with various musical cultures from around the world."