Aswan Dancers

The first section is songs we learned while singing with Aswat (which means voices in Arabic) is a non-profit public benefit corporation based in San Francisco at The Arabic Cultural Center and is organized to provide for and instruction in, exhibition, presentation, and discussion of Arabic Music, art, poetry, literature, theater and culture, generally, and to provide a forum for the public expression of Arabic music, literature, poetry, theater, art and culture.

Aswat, founded by Nabila Mango in 2000, is dedicated to promoting the Arabic culture through its music and song. It is an institution that expreses the rich heritage of the Arab world. "We want our children to know more of our culture than just the food. We want them to love and appreciate our musica nd dance, our poetry, our literature and customs. We can only do that if we establish long-term institutions that will outlive us and perpetuate the culture that we love. We want to embed the love of Arabic music in our families, schools, organizations and the larger community." Under Nabila's leadership we have performed at many public events and universities and were invited to and performed at the Seattle Arabic Festival in 2001.

Songs compliments of Aswat

'ala baladi mahbub waddini

al qudsu l atiqa

ana hawayto

'Ala Baladi al Mahbub Waddini (Take me to the country of my beloved)

(Riyadh al Soumbati music - Ahmed Rami - lyrics) (translated by Nabila Shehadeh and Mimi Spencer - mimikanun@aol.com)

'Ala baladi(l) mahbub(u) waddini Take me to the country of my beloved

Zad wagdi wil-bu'di kawini My passion has increased and the separation is burning me

Ya habibi ana 'albi ma'ak Oh my beloved, my heart is with you

Tul(il) layli sahran wayyak The whole night I am staying up with you

Titmanna 'ayni ru'yak My eye wishes to see you

'Ashkilak winta tiwasini I'll cry on your shoulder and you'll comfort me

Ya mafir 'ala bahr an-Nil Oh you traveller to the river Nile

Ana liyya fi masri khalil I have a friend in Egypt

Min bu'du ma banam il-layl And after the night goes to sleep

'Ala baladi al-mahbub(u) waddini Take me to the country of my beloved

*****

Al Qudsu L Atiqa (Fairuz) music

Mirrayt bishawarea, shawarea il its ilaat'ia

Iddamid dakakin ilbi'yit min faLaSTiN

Kina sawal khabriyyi, autyuni mazhariyyi 'aluli haydi h diyyi minnas iNNaTirin

music

Wimsheit bishawarea, sharwarea il its ilaatia

Boo'af aabab wibwab,

Sarit uSurNaS Hab (w)ainayhun ilHazini,

min Ta'it ilmadini Takhidni witwaddini bighirbit ilaazab

music soft

Kan fi'aRD ukan

Fi 'idayn aambitaammir aambitaammir taHtishamsu taHtir riH; uSaR fi byut uSaR fishbabik ambidzahhir

SaRfi ulad, wib'idayhun fi iktab Wiblayl killu layl SaRil Hidib fayyit libyut

music

Wili idayn issowda khalaat libwab SaRit libyut iblaS Hab

music SaRit libyut iblaS Hab music

Baynunu bayn ibyutun FaSil ishowk wiNNaR Wili idayn issowda music aaMSaRRikh bishawaria,

music shawaria il its ilaati'a music

Khallil ghinniyyiTSir aawaSifu hadir Ya SowTi DaLLak Tayir, zowbiabihaD DaMayir

Khabbirhun aalli sayir, balki byooaaD DaMir Ya SowTi DaLLak Tayir,

zowbiabihaD DaMayir Khabbirhun aalli sayir,

balki byooaaD DaMir Khabbirhun aalli sayir, balki - - -

byooaaD DaMir 11 or 12 c. long

*****

Ana Hawayto
Said Darwish (masmudi kabeer)
2x Ana hawayto winta hayt
Wilayh ba'a-loom il'azool
music
Yihibbi inni a'ool ya rayt ya rayt
IlHoobi-da-'anni-yizool
Ma dum(ta) ana bihagro bihagro irtaDayt
Khalli ba'a illi yi'ool, illi yi'ool
solo An (aw)Habibi-fil-gharaam ma feesh kida
Wala fi-l manam
music
solo Ma feesh kida, kida Wala fi-l manam
An (aw) Habibi
solo Ma feesh kida Wala fi-l manam
An (aw) Habibi
1x chorus, 1x solo, 2x chorus ah ah ah ah ah ah
5x AHibbo Hatta
chorus fil-khiSam
Wiboo'do wiboo'do 'anni ya nas ya nas Haram
chorus Ma dum(ta) Ma feesh kida Wala fi-l manam An(aw) Habibi
ana bihagro irtadayt
'ulli 'ala id-dunya is-salaam
ah ah ah aaaah

The Aswan Dancers
829 Elizabeth Street
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 282-7910 aminajune@aol.com

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