‘Umar al-Baṭsh

Biography

Umar al-Batsh (1885–1950) was an Aleppine Sufi musician taught by Salih al-Jadhba, Ahmad Uqayl and Ahmad al-Shaar. He played oud, frame drum and darbuka, and travelled to Arabistan with Ali al-Darwish.

Abd al-Fattah Qalaji describes his transfer of samah from Sufi lodges to artistic troupes. He developed dance formations and suites combining modes such as rast, hijaz and bayat in different metres, extending teaching and performance into schools and theatres.

Qalaji reports a 1936 Damascus visit to teach Doha al-Adab’s girls, an Oriental Music Institute invitation in 1943 and further teaching there in 1947. Doha students performed samah at the Syrian University auditorium in 1947, with Fakhri al-Barudi supporting its expansion.

Wasif Jawhariyyeh’s memoir describes taking oud lessons from him in wartime Jerusalem.

He added khana sections to Sayyid Darwish’s muwashshahat, including Ya Shadi al-Alhan.

Sarband’s 2019 Elbphilharmonie programme lists his setting of Badru husnin zar separately from a traditional Arabic setting with the same title. The original list documents the continued inclusion of his music in concert programmes after his death.