pauldata - 10-24-2007 at 03:18 AM
Does anyone have the lyrics and translation of this lovely song "Helalisa" (Nubian Song) by Hamza El Din:
CLICK HERE: Helalisa
omazuz - 10-24-2007 at 08:30 PM
"This song is sung by someone wh is working his shaddouf,a water -pulley irrigating device on the nile.
The rhythm of his pulling is determined by the rhythm of the song.it is a love song begging a migrating pelican to carry the man's greeting to his
beloved,praying to Allah,the carrier of that which cannot be carried,to help him bear his burden of love,as he raises his burden of water to his
fields."
its from Hamza El Din's cd "eclipse"-1978.
no translation to the words exept the ebove.
great cd.
pauldata - 2-6-2008 at 12:41 AM
Thank You!
I've recently got a second (egyptian) oud to keep in lower tuning than my turkish, and I'm learning this song Helalisa as my first attempt at learning
a complete oud song, with the vocal. I love the harmonics he plays, and the rhythm is very 'funky'... 
John Erlich - 2-6-2008 at 11:47 AM
Hi Pauldata,
I sent a request to a local Sudanese scholar friend.
Maybe, if he comes through for us, we could find a way for you to buy a copy of his book:
"Maxine Kumin recommends "Morning in Serra Mattu," an ode by Arif Gamal: “Morning in Serra Mattu: A Nubian Ode" is actually an oral recitation of
life in the Sudan from the 1940’s to the building of the Aswan Dam, as told to E. G. Dubovsky, who recorded it in meter. It is rich with the
dailiness of the Nubians, the seasonal planting and harvesting, marriages, education—one young man goes to Oxford and is befriended by Aldous
Huxley. The metrics are never intrusive, but vital to the telling.” (Arkady)
I'll let you know what happens.
Best,
John
Hamza El Din sheet notes
omazuz - 2-6-2008 at 08:41 PM
Good morning (in Israel)- does any one have Hamzas sheet notes?