KUWAIT, April 6 (KUNA) -- Kuwait's renowned musician Sulaiman Al-Daigan has published a book in which he documents the music legacy of his country, with the aim of introducing the different schools of music born in the Gulf region to lovers of music around the world.
In the preface of his book, "Legacy of a Nation", Al-Daigan explains there is a need to acquaint the world with the true musical innovations of people in the Gulf and how it is influenced by cultural heritage.
"True development of music in the Gulf begins with a knowledge of history, documentation, and publication," he says.
The young musician hails the great musicians of the region as being his role models, hoping that the documentation of their work in this publication will be of benefit for generations to come.
Al-Daigan takes his readers on a journey of many stops, starting with an exploration of the roots of Kuwaiti musical arts and the relationship between art and society since the country was first founded.
The musician then takes us to new horizons of Kuwaiti and Gulf music, commemorating events of the past and leading names in regional music and documenting their humanitarian experiences.
He explains that some forms of music and the interweaving of sounds was not an aim in itself, but is a means to bring diversity to music and create new forms for its presentation.
Cultural Kuwaiti music, he says, was handed down from one generation to the next and is thus performed as part of folk music individually or in a group, noting that these music pieces have a distinctive musical structure in terms of rhythm, lyrics, and even the dances that accompany them.
Al-Daigan also notes the difference between music of the desert, the urban areas, the sea, and music performed at special occasions, adding that people used music as a form of expression of their feelings and concerns.
"Cultural Kuwaiti and Gulf music is a companion of the people while carrying out their daily chores, whether in the desert, city, or at sea ... it preserves the spirit of the people and their identity," he notes.
In his book, Al-Daigan names a number of cannons of music: Abdullah Al-Faraj, Abdullah Al-Fudhala, Abdullatif Al-Kuwaiti, and Mahmoud Al-Kuwaiti, Ahmad Al-Zinjibari, Saud Al-Rashid, Hamad Rujaib, Awad Doukhi, Dr. Yousef Doukhi, Ahmad Baqer, and Abdulaziz Al-Mufarrij.
When speaking about innovations introduced to Kuwaiti music, the author names the great roles played by Ibrahim Al-Soula, Ghannam Al-Daigan, and Marzouq Al-Marzouq.
The book also documents contributions of political figures and members of the ruling family to the country's music movement while using pseudonyms, such as in the case of Sheikh Salem Al-Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah.
Al-Daigan also commemorates the late poet Fayeq Abduljaleel and the late musician Abdullah Al-Rashid, both of whom were martyred during the 1990 invasion of Kuwait.
The book includes a CD of the works of musicians who names are mentioned in the book, and the author intends to issue a series of publications on musicians, singers, poets, and players of musical instruments in Kuwait and the Gulf.
