Farid Allawerdi | |
|---|---|
 Allawerdi c.1960s | |
| Born | 1923 Basra, Iraq |
| Died | 2007 Dublin, Ireland |
| Nationality | Iraqi |
| Citizenship | Irish |
| Spouse | Mila Allawerdi (1937-2013) |
Farid Allawerdi 1923 - 2007 Farid Allawerdi (Arabic: فريد الله ويردي) also transliterated as Farid Allahwerdi or Farid Allah Werdi (Russian: Фарид Алахверди), (1923-2007) was an Iraqi composer,[1] violist, musicologist, and teacher, and is considered one of Iraq’s most innovative[2] and influential[3] composers. As a composer, he was the first and only one to be internationally recognized[4][5] and as a member of the International Society for Contemporary Music he appeared on their International Rostrum of Composers. His compositions have been performed in concerts and on radio and television, in the United States, France, Japan, Russia, Switzerland, Syria, Egypt and many far-Eastern countries. He won many awards and honours, including Prix D’Honneur de 'L'Ecole Nationale de Musique de Saint-Brieuc, Paris, and a Diploma of Appreciation for his leading role in furthering Arab Music 1970-1995 by the Arab League, Arab Academy of Music. He explored contemporary musical idioms to find his own unique language where two completely different musical traditions – that of the Middle East and of the contemporary classical – could merge seamlessly. In his Quartet No.1, the richness of the scale and rhythms used in Iraqi Maqam (Saba) are deeply rooted in the soil of his nation’s folk tradition and form a synthesis with his classical training.[6][7][8]
The 1940s and 1950s saw an artistic renaissance. He was involved in bridging the gap between modernity and heritage. He used the twelve-tone combined with the quarter-tone (an ancient Arabic mode), together with silences that have structural function, and “knocking the wood” for two different percussive sounds in evocation of traditional Iraqi dance drums.
As an accomplished instrumentalist, having studied the Violin and Viola, and as a member of several string quartets, Allawerdi had a natural affinity for composing for strings. His Fantasia for the Violin Alone is considered one of the most challenging compositions for the instrument.[9] It was notably performed by Vartan Manoogian, Boris Klepov and Kumiko Ito.
- ^ "Farid Allawerdi (1927 - 2007)". Contemporary Music Centre. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
- ^ Almada Supplements
- ^ "رحيل الموسيقار العراقي القدير فريد الله ويردي". 4 February 2007.
- ^ Alnaked Al Iraqi https://www.alnaked-aliraqi.net/article/50697.php Issue number 6
- ^ Alnaked Al Iraqi reprint of old interview from 50 years ago Almada newspaper from that time https://www.alnaked-aliraqi.net/article/50489.php
- ^ "Farid Alla -Werdi". 10 November 2022.
- ^ Almada Supplements https://almadasupplements.com/view.php?cat=7532
- ^ Elaph Literature Journal https://elaph.com/Web/ElaphLiterature/2007/2/208995.htm Sunday, 4 February 2007
- ^ "Farid Alla -Werdi". 10 November 2022.