Music is Indispensable Science, Saudi Columnist Says→

Okaz columnist Khalaf al-Harbi comments on the debate about music at Saudi schools:

I believe the Ministry of Education will make one of the biggest mistakes in its history if it does not introduce such classes in schools. All over the world, schools teach music to students, except in Saudi Arabia. It is difficult to believe that those schools are wrong and we are right.

I know that I will receive an avalanche of criticisms from the majority of people who will read my article because I believe music is an indispensable science for human beings.

But it brings me solace that 99 percent of readers who attack me now have played a major role in making Arabic satellite channels that air music clips popular. Today, the music market in our country is one of the largest in the Middle East, thanks to those readers.

Al-Farabi Music→

Laura Bashraheel reports on al-Farabi, a band in Jeddah who try combine classical Arabic poetry with fusion music:

The band hopes its combination of formal Arabic with fusion music will attract an international audience. Their main goal is to introduce a new musical trend and appreciation for instrumental music in the Kingdom. The band is expected to release an EP (extended play) containing five songs.

“We have over 12 songs but we will include five in the album as we are still experimenting with the market and see what sort of response we get,” said Farhan.

Jeddah has a fascinating, budding art scene. I met Thamer Farhan, manager of al-Farabi, when I visited the city for the first time few years ago. He used to rap. I thought he was talented and smart, but too introverted to be performing on stage. Now it seems that he is working more on the production and management side of things. The band has an interesting concept. You can listen to them in a jam session in the video below:

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National Day Concerts Canceled→

SPA:

In solidarity with brothers of Syrian people, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ordered to cancel the opera singing that would have been held across the regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia within the framework of its celebrations of the 82nd anniversary of its National Day.

Conservatives are relieved that there will be no music conert in Makkah. Cancelling the scheduled celebrations also means that the King won’t need to cut his vacation in Morocco and be in the country to attend. ♦