Umm Kulthum: The Voice of Egypt - Assignment Example

Lecturer Umm Kulthum - The Voice of Egypt The pictures of the Voice of Egypt, Umm Kulthum, provide interesting facts. The pictures illustrate that she was a celebrated musician in the Arab world. She was born to a poor household, in a rural village; her mother was a housewife, while her father was an Imam. Even though she is deceased, her music performance still attracts a worldwide audience of millions of people. She effectively used the mass media in her music performances; hence, her songs are widely played in international airwaves.

Her father was also musician, and festivals for extra income (Danielson 13). 2. Umm Kulthum gained great popularity due to her superior music performances. Her effective vocal characteristics ensured that many music stakeholders like composers and lyricists worked with her. She also performed her music performances in front of the general public; this ensured her success in popular Arab songs. She also got popularity through participating in musical movies and live music events (Danielson 15).

She was also decorated by the royal family with highest honors reserved for political leaders. She effectively used the mass media for her music performances; hence her songs are still widely played by the international media houses. Umm Kulthum Questions1. The most reliable date of birth for Umm Kulthum is May 4, 1904. This is according to Tammay al-Zahayrah’s provincial birth records. 2. Umm Kulthum describes her mother as a housewife, who taught her children the importance of trusting in God. 3. Umm Kulthum grew up in a small rural village called Tammay al-Zahayrah.

The village had 278 dwellings that accommodated 1,665 individuals. 4. The city that Umm Kulthum’s family moved to, so as to promote her music career is called Cairo, the entertainment business centre o f Egypt. 5. The singing styles that made her the top Cairo singer by 1928 are; her trained voice, improved cosmopolitan demeanor, and new repertory.6. Music played an important role in Umm Kulthum’s popularity. This is because the royal family and political leaders of Egypt knew due to her music prowess.

The royal family members even attended her public music events. Works CitedDanielson, Virginia. The Voice of Egypt: Umm Kulthum, Arabic Song, and Egyptian Society in the Twentieth Century. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 1997. Print.