Sabri
Moudallal:
Born in Aleppo in 1918, highly esteemed by native Aleppians but scarcely
known beyond the city limits, he has almost always lived outside the "star
system". His talent was revealed relatively late on in life, from the
seventies on, when he gave a series of concerts in Paris with his group of
the time, a vocal quartet known as "The Muezzins of Aleppo". Ever since then
he has received constant requests from abroad, has been appointed principal
muezzin of the city. Sabri Moudallal is one of Syria's greatest vocal
artists, with a prodigious output as a composer. He has taken the art of the
flourish to its highest degree, even developing a vocal technique enabling
him to take his breath whilst singing. Although he remains a faithful adept
of the sacred song, he is equally at home in the secular repertory. In spite
of his great age, he is still pursuing his career. He was a pupil of Umar
al-Batsch himself, and his great speciality is now the wasla, of which he is
a true master in every aspect, down to the most minute detail. Like his
master he has also put his hand and skill to composition in the traditional
style. *
