Tareq Abdel Hakim Museum.. "today" The history of Saudi music is monitored within the walls of historic Jeddah

It embraces the alleys of Historic Jeddah is one of the most prominent cultural landmarks that recall the memory of Saudi art, where Tariq Abdul Hakim Museum is a witness to a long journey of creativity and musical establishment.

The museum embodies a living space that documents a rich artistic history, and preserves the legacy of one of the pioneers of music who contributed to shaping the features of the Kingdom’s musical identity.

Biography of the Dean of Art

During a tour of “Al-Youm” inside the Tariq Abdul Hakim Museum, located in the historic “Beit Al-Menoufi” building in the Yemen Quarter in historic Jeddah, features of the experience emerged. A rich cultural exhibition that showcases the biography of the dean of Saudi art, who combined military work with musical creativity, as his military career extended for about three decades, during which he founded the Saudi Army Music School and contributed to consolidating the presence of national music in the cultural scene.

Rare collectibles and instruments

The museum includes a wide collection of personal collectibles and rare musical instruments that tell different stages of his artistic career, the most prominent of which are the violin of the musician Sami Al-Shawa and the oud of the artist Muhammad Al-Qasabji, In addition to historical documents and photos that shed light on prominent moments in his artistic life and his relationships with major artists in the Arab world.

The traditional atmosphere of Ramadan

The increasing demand for the museum comes in conjunction with the Ramadan activities in historic Jeddah organized by the “Punchmark” company, as this cultural and heritage atmosphere contributes to attracting visitors from inside and outside the Kingdom, and gives the region a vibrant character that combines history, arts, and activities. The diverse Ramadan festival.

Beginnings in Cairo

The museum also highlights Tariq Abdel Hakim’s educational and artistic career, which began when he was sent to Cairo in 1952 AD as the first Saudi to study military music. This opened the door to a new phase of artistic cooperation with a number of prominent Arab musicians, before he later moved to Lebanon to present musical works that left a clear impact on the path of Arabic song.

The Story of the Record The first

The exhibition also presents the story of recording his first records, which were produced with funding from a businessman in Bahrain, at a time when the recording industry was limited in the region. These records were printed in factories in Greece, and received widespread distribution that contributed to strengthening his artistic presence and expanding the scope of his musical works.

Saudi music globally

As the years passed, Tariq Abdul Hakim continued his efforts in developing Saudi music, and he founded orchestral bands. Military and the National Heritage Band, which performed in a number of countries, carrying with it the features of Saudi arts to the theaters of the world, in a step that contributed to introducing the Kingdom’s musical heritage on a broader scale.

Documenting Musical Heritage

The role of the museum is not limited to displaying historical collections only, but goes beyond that to be a knowledge center specialized in documenting and studying the Saudi musical heritage, as it includes research and archival units that work on collecting field recordings and preserving artistic documents, in addition to supporting studies related to music. Traditional.

A continuing cultural legacy

The establishment of this cultural edifice comes within the efforts of the Ministry of Culture to preserve the intangible heritage of the Kingdom and enhance awareness of national arts, as the museum constitutes an extension of the career of Tariq Abdul Hakim, who previously contributed to establishing the Castle of Traditional Arts in Jeddah, leaving an artistic legacy that continues to inspire generations and enrich the Saudi cultural scene to this day.

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