Written and performed by Youmna Saba 
for the RELIEF Centre 2021 conference: 
"Working Through Crisis: Innovations, Possibilities and Limitations of Research in a Volatile Lebanon."

Recorded in March 2021.

طال العمر وتاب
هو العمر ضاع في بالي
كأنّ الوقت ساب
يعيد لي الوقت حالي

ساعة قمر شاب
ضوءٌ غاب في ظلّ شالي
بريقٌ خفيفٌ ذاب
عينك باب الصبح الغالي

RELIEF Center Conference 2021

Al Sobh

"Arb‘een (40)" is a solo experiment in songwriting, challenging narrative structures and proposing alternative readings of time and continuity. It is rendered by use of oud and guitar, and vocals inspired by the circularity of the project’s recurrent themes. It borrows elements from the Arabic music tradition, and blends them with electronic treatments, sonic textures and loops.

Written, arranged and performed by Youmna Saba

Recorded and mixed by Fadi Tabbal at Tunefork Recording Studios, Lebanon 

Mastered by Lopazz at Mixmastering, Germany

Produced by Youmna Saba and Fadi Tabbal (Tunefork)

Album cover illustration and design by Joseph Kai

all rights reserved

Arb'een (40)

40-3

40-2

40-1

Poem by Assulaka (“Assulaka tarthi ‘ibnuha”, 7th c)
Music and performance by Youmna Saba

Based on “Surface Grinder 7” clip, from the Beirut Heritage Initiative sound library
Special thanks to Fadi Tabbal

© youmnasaba 2022

Beirut Heritage Initiative

Ritha'

Ghassan Saliba - Bi bayt b3eed - Composed by Elias Rahbani

Bi bayt b3eed - Ghassan Saliba / Elias Rahbani

Yorgo Elka