Lamma Bada Yatathanna (Arabic: لما بدا يتثنى) is an Arabic muwashshah of the Nahawand maqam.[1][2] The poem is considered one of the most famous Arabic pieces of its era.[3]

Identity of the poet

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The author of the piece is disputed, and thought to be either Lisan al-Din Ibn al-Khatib (1313 - 1374 AD), which is the most plausible, or Muhammad Abdulrahim Al-Maslub [ar] (1793 - 1828 AD).

Lyrics

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Arabic lyrics English translation
لما بدا يتثنى (أمان) When my love appeared walking with a swinging gait (Aman)[4]
حبي جماله فتنى (أمان) His beauty infatuated me (Aman)[4]
أمرٌ ما بلحظـة أسـرنا Something captured our hearts at a glance.
غصن ثنى حين مال A branch bended once tilted.
وعدي ويا حيرتــي Oh my destiny, my dilemma
مالي رحيم شـكوتي none will answer my appeal.
في الحب من لوعتـي for healing me from my ardor of love.
إلا مليك الجمــال except the Lord of beauty.

Rhythm

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The song is in 10/8 time.[4]

Melody

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Its mode is the nahawand maqam (مقام نهاوند [ar], harmonic minor scale).[4]

Renditions

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The song is a standard of Arabic and Middle Eastern musical repertoires. Versions of the song have been recorded by artists including Fairuz,[5] Sabah Fakhri,[5] Souad Massi, Lena Chamamyan, Nabyla Maan, Hamza El Din, Sami Yusuf, Abeer Nehme[6] and Talia Lahoud.

References

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  1. ^ "Lammā badā yatathanna". foundation for Arabic Music Archiving & Research.
  2. ^ Thiesen, Charles (2010-12-02). "Rich, complex, and beautiful". ravishdears. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  3. ^ "الموشح الأشهر "لما بدا يتثنى" إبداعٌ تعبيريٌ غير مسبوق!" [The Famous Mushshah "Lamma Bada Yatathanna", an Unprecedented Work]. Al Ra'i (Jordanian newspaper) (in Arabic).
  4. ^ a b c d Campbell, Patricia Shehan; Beegle, Amy (2003). "Middle Eastern Expansions on Cultural Diversity in Music Education". Music Educators Journal. 90 (1): 21–30. doi:10.2307/3399973. ISSN 0027-4321.
  5. ^ a b "حكاية صباح فخري وابن الصعيد.. كيف أعاد «سلطان الموشحات» أغنيات «لما بدا يتثنى وياحلو يا مسلينى»؟". بوابة الأهرام (in Arabic). Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  6. ^ "Lama Bada Yatathana - Abeer Nehme & UMS Choral Union". National Arab Orchestra / YouTube. Retrieved 2023-12-28.