Abdulwahab Al-Qattan... "What's the use, my heart?"
Accompanied by the timeless melodies of Mahmoud Al-Kuwaiti’s “Al-Boushieh” and Fared Al-Atar’s “Eh Faydat Qalbi,” among other enduring masterpieces, Abdulwahab Al-Qattan, a faculty member at the Higher Institute for Musical Arts, captivated the audience at the Avenues Mall complex. Performing with his musical ensemble during a concert held on Saturday evening as part of the eighteenth edition of the “Summer Cultural Festival,” Al-Qattan delivered a musical experience that blended authenticity with innovation. The performance revived several Kuwaiti and Arab heritage pieces alongside a diverse selection of musical works.
Al-Qattan took the audience on a musical journey through various facets of Kuwaiti heritage, prominently featuring the “Sawt” and “Samri” genres. He also presented a collection of Arabic compositions, along with light, accessible vocal selections that, while not among the most frequently performed works in the current musical scene, offered a refreshing change.
The concert opened with an instrumental piece, followed by “Samai Daf,” “Arabic Sawt,” and “Shami Sawt.” Al-Qattan then showcased his mastery across various musical styles, performing songs such as “Dunya Al-Hawa,” “Al-Boushieh,” “Sahr Al-Layali,” and “Eh Faydat Qalbi,” among others.
Al-Qattan’s selection of these works stemmed from his desire to offer a program distinct from the conventional, providing the audience with the opportunity to rediscover pieces that may have faded from memory or rarely appear in standard musical programs. The concert thus served as a space to evoke musical memory while simultaneously exploring new dimensions of Arab heritage and music.
The event was more than a mere revival of musical heritage; it resembled a dialogue between the past and the present. Al-Qattan ensured that the performances retained the identity and authenticity of the original works while allowing for interpretive and performative treatments suited to the nature of the event and the diverse tastes of the audience.
Amid the audience’s enthusiastic response, it became evident that music has the power to resurrect many details embedded in memory, particularly when engaging with works that resonate with the Kuwaiti and Arab consciousness. Al-Qattan and his ensemble successfully achieved this by presenting a program that combined heritage with unique selections, delivering an evening that implicitly conveyed the message that returning to the past does not mean repeating it, but rather rediscovering it and presenting it to new generations with a contemporary spirit.
On the sidelines of the concert, Al-Qattan expressed his sincere gratitude and appreciation to the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, commending his selection and nomination to participate in this event as part of the eighteenth edition of the “Summer Cultural Festival.” He emphasized that this participation represented a significant opportunity for him and his ensemble to present a diverse musical experience to the Avenues audience, fostering a closer connection with listeners through a program that bridges heritage and innovation.
Al-Qattan noted that the concert was the result of musical collaboration with a group of distinguished musicians who formed his ensemble: Oud player Saeed Al-Salti from the Sultanate of Oman, Qanun player Badr Al-Qattan, Keyboard player Ahmed Al-Duwaikh, and percussionist Ahmed Al-Filikaawi. He explained that the diversity of instruments and musical expertise contributed to enriching the program and providing a broader scope for expressing the selected works.
