During the turbulent years of Syrian drama, soundtracks and theme songs achieved wide distribution and created added value that reinforced the success of these works.
In the drama season of Ramadan 2023, the equation was achieved again in the series “Al-Zend” when the song “Its Badge” by Maha Al-Hamawi, the soundtrack, and even the interior songs that Sarah Farah made because they came as a result of an in-depth study of what is passionate about the geographical area in which the story of the series takes place.
Therefore, the modern rework of insults and songs made by a popular singer named Barhoum Rizk has become popular, especially since the work is entrusted to a star of the size of Tim Hassan.
The owner of this musical achievement was a graduate of the Higher Institute of Music in Damascus in 2012, Ari Jean Sarhan, who had experimented several times with innovation through the bouzouk instrument that he plays with -has Arabic, Syriac and Kurdish components, and was inspired by Syrian reality.
He also produced soundtracks for local dramas, of which there are now 11, and a group of songs. “Al-Zand,” entitled “Comrades of the Path.”
In the final season, director Samer Al-Barqawi collaborated again with Sarhan to compose the soundtrack For the series “Taj”The decision of the Syrian artist was to move away from the choice of a song in the logo, and to limit himself to the music in order not to make comparisons with “Al-Zend,” since the amazing proposal was between -differently however, he concluded his musical endeavor with a rearrangement of the famous Sabaa’i mawwal “Al-Sham Lula Al-Mazalim” by the popular singer Tayseer Al-Saqqa, “Abu Winds, ” which was sung by Sarah Darwish, to complement the hymn ” Because of the glory” by the late poet Omar Abu Risha, but with a new arrangement by the young musician who is more interested in the critical article than in any media content that may accompany his work.
The music of Ari Jan Sarhan in the series “Al-Zand” was successful in Ramadan 2023 (social network sites)
When Ari Jean Sarhan was asked if Syrian drama was able to create an identity for soundtrack music, or if it was still imitating and benefiting from specific experiences, he replied, “Identity was Syrian drama has always had music, because we have many professors who worked. in the past years, and we are trying to follow the steps, including There is a new generation in which development is supposed to exist, and the aim is music and authentic to create an audio recognition for each work we are working on, but there is no single system that we have worked on, but instead there are many promising names that have presented creative music.”
On the other hand, it has become clear to the public that the director Samer Barqawi, the star Tim Hassan, and the company “Al-Sabah” are one team that makes the Ramadan series every year, and it seems that Sarhan has joined them. as a composer, but is working within the logic of the team considered a productive position or is it an opportunity to be accused of “Paralytic?
The Syrian songstress responds by saying, “I believe that any partnership will bring good results, and that it cannot be “paralyzed” as much as it is a professional understanding and harmony, since continuous work with the team deepens points of convergence and clarifies the final formulas through which the project can appear in a specific and different way, thus creating a re- the statement of the partnership a greater challenge, because of the desire and discovery of something new.”
When talking about his graphic music experiments, which did not achieve the success he achieved in “Al-Zand,” even if this success was delayed, Sarhan replied, “On the on the other hand, because when we want to get the result of work, that requires a certain time, and for me it is that time.” It has been 10 years since I graduated from the High Institute of Music, and now it seems like the natural time in which we have to appear to the public then, the soundtrack is part of a complete work, and this work must have comprehensive aspects and sensible features, starting from the text to the direction and who the heroes are Then, seeing the production company present its vision… among the interrelationship of these elements, my position appeared, my name was put forward, and it began to be circulated. “
However, the level of success is still higher in “Al-Zand” from a certain special point of view, especially at the level of music “I don’t want to talk about success, because it relates to the audience that receives the material It is said that I deal with the musical material with complete confidentiality, and this is what happened.” song in the first one, but in the second one, it was an agreement that there would only be music from it without a song, knowing that music turns into a movement as something that doesn’t usually happen, so it was almost a challenge for the music to match the time, the image, and the story that the series put on, and in the last program we tried to crown our efforts by reproducing a song: “Bilad al-Sham, If Not the Injustices,” linked to the anthem .”
Ari Jean Sarhan joined the director Samer Barqawi, the star Tim Hassan, and the company “Al-Sabah” in their Ramadan works (social network sites)
Regarding the goal of collaborating with young female singers, such as with Maha Al-Hamwi in “Al-Zand” or with Sarah Darwish in “Taj,” Sarhan says, “It’s important to be finding different voices and giving opportunities to young people. It’s important, but everyone knows the reality of Syria and the lack of music and singing production companies there.” For us, drama is the only rich place through which we can bring new voices to the Arab or Syrian audience.”
He said, “When I chose Maha Al-Hamawi for the song “Al-Zand,” it was not only based on her academic studies, but also because she is from that region known as drama touch, and she is very good at disgust. , so this was the choice. the appropriate voice for the job This thing is more than finding talent because I am not a production company that takes advantage of this success and accepts it as a project, but if I could find an opportunity to make an album for her I would like to share a tune with her or give her a label.”
“As for me, I always express my willingness to all those who work with me to be by their side at all professional levels,” Sarhan explains, and then concludes that “our campaign is summed up in making these voices heard, because they are academic, educated and professional voices, but for knowledge to create a Syrian chant.”
Regarding his opinion on some decisions related to the Institute of Higher Music, which states that any student from the first years who puts a song on the market without permission from its administration will be dismissed, he says, “As for me, I have no connection with the High Institute of Music, but I study at the High Institute of Dramatic Arts.” My communication is limited to acting students who have a taste for music, and when I want to talk about the Higher Music Institute I need 6 interviews and I prefer not to talk about it.
When asked about his opinion – as a musician – on the official music academy in Syria and its findings, he explained, “The Higher Music Institute is the most important music academy in our country, and I have no problem with his laws, and I have no right to comment on such a law if it exists. only on his studies, because he comes from a non-academic background, so he has to pay attention to the data of his studies, understand more, and immerse himself in all details present in the institution.”
Sarhan concluded, “It is our duty as graduates of this institution to be in contact with him, his professors, and musicians in general, and try to improve the musical situation in Syria.”
