Lara Darwazah

Troubadour Woman is a podcast about music and culture. In this space I share intimate thoughtful impressions of the Music that I have loved and listened to all my life. It's the Music that saved my soul really. 

I am a mother of a twelve year old beautiful girl called Salma and on this platform I will discuss specific themes in Classical and Arabic Music and will interview people who are passionate about Music and Cultural identity. 

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Music has been my Life's companion, in-fact I was told once that Music has probably saved my life.. This is an episode where I discuss the effects of Music on the mind and how our mental health is affected by it. I interview Ms. Tala Al Kurd who is an experienced Psychologist. We base our discussions and experienced knowledge on studies and recent research on this important topic. I invite you to listen in (it's in Arabic and will be recorded in English Soon).Please share with me what you feel is the one or two pieces of Music that had a tremendous effect on your life! 

Recommended Listening and References

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000jg5shttps://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b08n1mr5Brandenburg Concerto No 1 for  BachSecond Movement Piece from 3.54 seconds,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWEHKTyaVc0CATS Musical “Memory”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gd_ohoPzYcSpanish Trainhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnaUvPoiTfQThe River By Garth Brookshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAgUQ7lMKOsTheme from “The Mission” Marricone (Gabriel’s Oboe)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7w-IeNR9koMohamad Abdul Wahab.Ghalia Benalihttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQNdke9P-X0Dimitris Theodorakishttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLvRjdMI6Wk&list=PLPo94LRnFvambpGYR0kKU88NtRkFS8rYl&index=51Chopin Nocturnehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsytrrizLwYRene Fleming. Casta Diva. Norma for Belinnihttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rg4L5tcxFcA&list=PLPo94LRnFvalrlMSryEhUJQFnkKYtlozE&index=2Personal RecommendationsMozart piano concerto No 23 Adagio.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8e0fBlvEMQ&list=RDGMEM8h-ASY4B42jYeBhBnqb3-w&start_radio=1&rv=biyy2tzMb8MChopin Mazurkahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G66TEXhx_KkDidohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFtNChII78kFull Recommended List of

Next Episode

In this episode I interview Archaeologist/History Teacher Kariman Mango and together we explore Cairo's roaring 1920's  - The limelight is placed on two main singers; Naimah il Masriah and Mounira il Mahdiah. Kariman gives an elaborate historical and political account of the time focusing on the women's feminist movement. We attempt to discover if these women were true artists or simply entertainers. We also delve into whether we should romanticize Cairo's extravagant 1920's or do we place these women in the right context and express the difficult circumstances they lived through.

This is my first podcast interview with Nasir AlBashir who is a Berkley College of Music graduate, a multi -talented Musician himself and a music producer in Jordan.We discuss love, politics and Jordanian society all wrapped up in Indie and Pop songs.The podcast is in English and we discuss the Indie and Pop Music scene in Jordan. Nasir lists the seven big names in the industry Akher Zapheer, Jaladal, Murabba3, Autostrad, Hana Malhas, Ayloul and Issam Al Najjar.Are these artists able to express issues and matters important to the average Jordanian?I hope you listen in and enjoy it !!


How has Ziad Rahbani been influenced by the music and personality of Sayed Darwish? Can those listeners who don't agree with him put aside his political views and just enjoy his compositions for what they are?Ziad Rahbani has contributed in more than one way to our contemporary Arabic Music library .. His style of compositions have incorporated the old Rahbani school but also he was able to venture into his own Jazz style of compositions.Songs that the young and old could relate to and love..I hope you can listen to the podcast and offer feedback!



Discovering the compositions of Sayed Darwish has been a pure pleasure and something very educational. An iconic/beginning of the last century Egyptian composer that lived an interesting life both in politics and love.. He revolutionised Arabic music in that he expressed the yearnings of the masses and managed to blend Egyptian folkloric music with Western instruments and harmony. He also wrote new compositions to the old Arabic Muashahat (lyric Arabic classical poetry).


I am excited to share with you the first episode of a four (five minutes each) part series on Umm Kulthum.  A personal, reminiscing gentle look into her life, politics and voice.My own personal connection to this great singer..


حلقه انتجتها صوت - A collaboration between Sowt and Myself - An unusual connection between Islam and Western Classical Music that saw its origins since the 11th Century. Western orchestral Instruments that Originated from the Asiatic civilization.. Religious ideas that travelled from the Islamic civilizations into the church. The famous Flamenco Dance and culture that came from Arab rural wonderers  الفلاح منكو ,  Even the famous European Troubadour song saw its start from the Arabic word 'tarab wa dor'- 

رصيد الأغاني والإعلانات بحسب الظهور:
أغنية البودكاست: لما بدا يتثنى، شيرين أبو خضر، دوزان
Zion hears the guardians sing, Composed by J.S. Bach, and performer by Allessio Bax
Marche Pour La Ceremonie Des Turcs, Jean Baptiste Lully, performed and Arranged by Jordi Savall
لّما بدا يتثنى، أندلسي
Cantigas Santa Maria, Jordi Savall
مقطع من نامي نامي، تهليل، أداء ODO Ensemble
Traditional Nubian Music, Tribal War Chant
La Negra, Alba Molina
De Sainte Colombe, Mr De Sainte Colombe: Gavotte Du Tendre
Wacht auf, ruft uns die Stimme BWV 140 Cantata JSB, Netherlands Bach Society
مقطع من سورة مريم، القارئ أحمد سعيد العمراني
Vivaldi Stabat Mater, Andreas Scholl, Ensemble 415
Pergolesi Stabat Mater, Bonney, Scholl and Rousset
Mozart in Egypt, Oud and Piano, Arranged by French musician Hughes de Courson

مراجع وقراءات إضافيّة حول الحلقة:
المرجع الأول: muslimheritage.com/contribution-to-music
المرجع الثاني: sow.tl/m3azefarticle
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This episode is an exploration on the similarities between Early Western Music and Islamic Culture. The 800 year Moslem occupation on Spain left a huge mark on European Music, Orchestra and even way of life. In the narration, I discuss this influence and go deeper to talk about the Virgin Mary in both religion and the section in the Quran where her story is narrated and held in the highest forms.. I also draw similarities in the way the Mary has been respected, depicted and her sanctity in Western Music..


Using Format