Ṣāliḥ ‘Abd al-Ḥayy

Biography

Frédéric Lagrange’s ASWAT programme distinguishes two phases in Salih Abd al-Hayy’s surviving work: Baidaphon discs beginning around 1914 and radio recordings from the 1940s and 1950s.

The discs span tarab and satirical taqatiq, with vocal influences including Manyalawi, Abu al-Ila Muhammad and his uncle Abd al-Hayy Hilmi. Lagrange interprets the radio waslas as preserving Nahda aesthetics while demonstrating a maturing performance style. This scholarly account of surviving recordings does not authenticate every personal anecdote or show that broadcasts reproduce entire historical concerts.

As printed on the labels S. Abdelhayصالح عبدالحيصالح افندي عبد الحي