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Osman, Ali (b. 1958, Omdurman). Sudanese composer, now resident in Egypt, of mostly orchestral, chamber and vocal works that have been performed in Africa and Europe; he is also active as a writer.
Mr. Osman began as a rock musician in 1971 and taught himself drumkit and guitar. He studied double bass with Rodney Slatford at the Conservatory of Music in Cairo from 1978-82, where he earned his diploma, and later studied composition with Gamal Abdel-Rahim there from 1979-86 and earned his BMus in composition and music theory with distinction and MMus in arts. He had post-graduate studies in analysis, counterpoint and music history with Awatif Abdel-Karim at this same school from 1986-90 and there earned his MMus.
Among his honors is Third Prize in the Abu Bakr Khairat competition of the Ministry of Culture in Cairo (1995, for Song for Chamber Orchestra) and a scholarship from Pro Helvetia to visit Switzerland (2000). His music has been performed in Austria, Egypt, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK.
He is also active as a guitarist and researcher of Sudanese music. As a writer, he has written numerous articles for Egyptian publications and with Samha El-Kholy and others, he has co-written the series of books Egyptian Contemporary Music (2000-03, Ministry of Culture, Cairo). In addition, he has served as assistant conductor of the Light and Hope Orchestra in Cairo since 2001.
He has lived in Egypt since 1978, where he has lectured on analysis, composition, counterpoint, and harmony at the Conservatory of Music in Cairo since 1990 and at the Arabic Higher Institute of Music in Cairo since 1999.
CONTACT INFORMATION
E-mail address: alicomposer@yahoo.com
Street address: Mr. Ali Osman, 5 El-Nasr St., El-Mesaha El-Haram, 12111 Giza, Egypt
Telephone: + 202 586 2672
Cellular phone: + 201 2388 8035
COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS (dates not available for the arrangements)
ORCHESTRAL: A Day in the Life of a Shepherd in The Sudan (symphonic poem), 1986; Dance, symphonic band, 1992; Fantasy, symphonic band, 1993; Shepherd Song, violin, string orchestra, 1993 (version of chamber work); From the South, flute, marimba, string orchestra, 1994 (version of chamber work); Song for Chamber Orchestra, 1993; Rhapsody, flute, oboe, violin, string orchestra, 1994 (version of chamber work); Shadows, flute, piano/celesta, string orchestra, 1994; A Trip on the Nile from South to North (symphonic poem), 1994; Do not depart, flute, oboe, clarinet, string orchestra, 1995 (version of vocal work); Images from Gaza, flute, oboe, clarinet, string orchestra, 1995 (version of vocal work); Symphonic Dance, symphonic band, 1996; Dance, small orchestra (6 winds, 6 brass, 2 percussion), 1999; Rhythmic Waves, flute, clarinet, piano, 4 percussion, string orchestra, 1999; An Hour in Boswil, flute, oboe, 2 percussion, string orchestra, 2000; Three Songs, flute, oboe, clarinet, string orchestra, 2002 (version of vocal work)
CHAMBER MUSIC: Argument, piccolo, tuba, snare drum (+ suspended cymbal), 1983; Aria, clarinet, piano, 1983; Aria, trumpet, piano, 1983; Five Little Pieces, clarinet, piano, 1983; Invention, clarinet, piano, 1983; Mawal Masri - Egyptian Mawal, clarinet, piano, 1983; String Quartet, 1983; Suite, double bass, 1983; Fugue, oboe, piano, 1984 (also version for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, 1984); Quintet, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, bassoon, 1984; Sonata, violin, piano, 1984; Two Two-Part Inventions, violin, cello, 1987; Two Three-Part Inventions, violin, viola, cello, 1987; Shepherd Song, oboe, piano, 1993 (also version for violin, string orchestra); From the South, flute, piano, 1994 (also version for flute, marimba, string orchestra); Rhapsody, violin, piano, 1994 (also version for flute, oboe, violin, string orchestra); Duo, flute, oboe, riqq, 2000; Trio, clarinet, cello, piano, 2000; Dance of the Elephants, 8 double basses, 2002
VOCAL: Vocalise, soprano, piano, 1984; Do not depart (text by Faruk Gowadah), soprano, piano, 1995 (also version for flute, oboe, clarinet, string orchestra); Images from Gaza (text by Salah Abdel-Sabur), soprano, piano, 1995 (also version for flute, oboe, clarinet, string orchestra); Sad Vibrations (vocalise), soprano, oboe, harp, 2 percussion, string orchestra, 1999; La-yaly (improvisational text), soprano, 3 clarinets, bass clarinet, 'ud, Egyptian tabla/riqq, 2001; Atmospheres (vocalise), soprano, 4 recorders, Egyptian tabla (+ riqq), 2002; Three Songs (text by Salah Abdel-Sabur), soprano, piano, 2002 (also version for flute, oboe, clarinet, string orchestra); My Bohemian Existence (text by Arthur Rimbaud), baritone, tuba, guitar (+ electric guitar), percussion, 2003; Sufi Hymns (vocalise), alto, clarinet, viola, piano, 2003
PIANO: Question No. 1, 1983; Four Little Pieces, 1987; Question No. 2, 1995; El-maqamas el-masri, 2000 (version of harpsichord work)
HARPSICHORD: El-maqamas el-masri - Egyptian Maqam, 2000 (also version for piano)
ARRANGEMENTS: The Castle Slaughter (Mohammed Abdel-Wahab), orchestra; Five Little Pieces (Gamal Abdel-Rahim), orchestra; Longa Reyad (Riad El-Sonbaty), orchestra; Tabla Concerto (Siegfried Fink), piano, Egyptian tabla
DISCOGRAPHY
Shepherd Song; Question Nos. 1-2; Aria (clarinet, piano); Five Little Pieces; El-maqamas el-masri; Rhapsody (violin, piano); Invention; Mawal Masri; From the South (orchestral version); An Hour in Boswil. Christie Stoll, flute; Martin Stöcklin, oboe; Andreas Ramseir, clarinet; Karel Boeschoten, violin; József Gazsi, viola; David Gattiker, cello; Matthias B. Frey, double bass; Jean-Claude Charrez, piano; Otja Kaufmann, harpsichord; Thomas Klee, percussion (Swiss Radio, 2000)
(Last updated on December 2, 2003)
