Just as ancient artifacts are being protected and displayed in the Egyptian Museum, so is Arabic music history also protected and presented in the Arabic Music Institute in Cairo. My impression of this place is thus that it’s really a historical museum of Arabic music, not only a music institute.
The main attraction for those who visit this place is the concerts of Arabic music performed by many different Arab bands, but what makes it so special to me are not the concerts, but everything else.
First, the decoration of the place takes me back in time to the old era of the 20th century. The institute has a library containing rare books & manuscripts and records by old Arab singers, authors and composers.
The Arab Music Institute also has a collection of old musical instruments (in the form of the musical instrument museum) displayed in different rooms. Each room contains a collection of similar musical instruments such as strings, wind, percussion etc. Each and every instrument comes with a brief explanation of how it works and what it sounds like.
I also liked the musical background by the works of Abdel Wahab, a very famous Arab singer and composer who makes me feel as if I’ve gone back in time.
The place is hidden treasure for those who loves music, and I do not know why it’s still not that well known.
