Hamza el Din, known as the "Father of Nubian Music," died May 15th from complications following brain surgery in Berkeley, California. Born in Toshka, Nubia, Egypt, El Din's precise age was unknown, but he was approximately 75.

Hamza El Din was a legendary oud master. Hamza journeyed in his own direction and allowed the underlying music to come to the surface rather than follow many of his contemporaries who took the route of infusing their music with pop, rock & new age experimentation. He employed clean melodic lines that are stripped to their essences and often accompanied by his deep, resonant vocals that evoke memories of the Nubian people’s glorious and ancient past. Alone, his voice and instrument are a beautiful combination ("Anesigu"). His instrumental songs, for example “Sumai Husaini” from The Wish and “Bint Baladna” from Lily Of The Nile are breathtaking forays into spiritual elevation. The song “Muwashnah” in my mind, conjures up images of the ancient glory of the Nubian civilization and brings to mind ancient cities like Meroe with its graceful temples, Nubian hieroglyphics, and ancient connections with Egypt.

It is often said that Hamza El Din was the first Nubian musician to compose music with the Oud as a solo instrument. He also played the tar (the ancient single-skinned frame drum of the upper Nile). Joan Baez became a fan of his when he performed at the Newport Folk Festival in 1964. She subsequently introduced him to Vanguard Records, which subsequently released his album, Music Of Nubia.

El Din's 1971 album, Escalay: The Water Wheel, released as part of the Nonesuch Explorer series, is generally agreed to be the most popular recording of traditional Egyptian folk music in the West. It was considered by many to be a one of the most important albums to give credence to the notion of world music as a legitimate music genre.

Many Western musicians were influenced by Hamza El Din’ album Escalay, and the Grateful Dead were one of them. They sometimes included El Din in their live performances. Hamza El Din also worked with the Dead in planning their legendary 1978 concerts in Egypt. He also worked with the internationally acclaimed Kronos Quartet.

In playing the traditional Nubian songs accompanied by the Oud, an instrument whose origins are derived from the Egyptian nefer, Hamza El Din recaptures the true spirit of Pharaonic Egypt, and the people of the Upper Nile

Discography:



The Music of Nubia- 1964 - Vanguard

Al Oud - 1965 - Vanguard

Escalay: The Water Wheel - 1971 - Nonesuch Explorer Series

Songs Of The Nile - 1982 - JVC

A Journey - 1990 - Chikumu Shobo Publishing/King Records

Nubiana Suite - 1990 - King Records

Muwasha - 1995 - JVC

Lily of the Nile - 1995 - Water Lily Accoustics

Escalay: The Water Wheel - 1999 - Nonesuch Explorer Series

A Wish - 1999 - Sounds True