Riyad al-Sunbati and the art of improvisation
Riyad al-Sunbati and the art of improvisation newspress_en Fri, 09/18/2026 - 13:37 Culture & Social Affairs Most listeners remember Riyad al-Sunbati as the composer behind some of Umm Kulthum’s greatest songs. But many don't know about his incredible improvisational skills. A handful of surviving recordings from private gatherings in Cairo during the 1960s show another side to the Egyptian…
Riyad al-Sunbati, revered as Umm Kulthum's most celebrated song composer, possessed exceptional improvisational prowess. Though his remarkable skills are evident through recordings from Cairo private gatherings during the 1960s, they are overshadowed by his contributions to other singers like Shahrazad and Saleh Abdel Hay. His purely instrumental music, excluding Longa Farahfaza and Shanghai Dance, has largely been neglected.
Al-Sunbati was a master of the oud, an instrument native to the Middle East. However, his mastery often goes unrecognized due to the scarcity of preserved radio performances. A handful of surviving recordings from 1963 to 1966 showcase his improvisational freedom, humor, and invention. The taqasim, or unmeasured vocal and instrumental improvisation, reveal his remarkable ability to engage the audience with flowing time and captivating melodies.
Al-Sunbati's compositions, such as Rubaiyat al-Khayyam with Tawfiq al-Alayli played on the cümbüş, serve as a masterclass in carrying oneself on the oud, inflecting composed phrases, and filling spaces with spontaneous invention.
Written by urgent.news from Al Majalla English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
