Qinawi, Metqal
Metqal Qinawi
Metqal Quenawi, born in 1929 in Luxor, Egypt, (also known as a.o. Met'qal, Metaqal Kinawi Metaqal and Awlad Metqal, and active with his Metaqal Rebab Ensemble), developed a style based on folk traditions from southern Egypt. Recovering the traditions of the Said (the southern region around Luxor), Metqal was brought up with the customs of the Fellahin (agricultural labourers who passed on the age-old traditions of Egypt) he mastered the rebab, an violin-like, Bedouin instrument made out of coconut shell, wood and animal skin that's played with a horse hair bow. His many recordings from the '70s and '80s (relesed on various cassettes) disseminated and rescued in the '70s and '80s made Metqal into a key reference in Egyptian music. Thanks to this LP, pressed in an edition of 500 copies, Metqal's music is now also available to western audiences.