Top of page

Book/Printed Material The Book of Songs.

About this Item

Title

  • The Book of Songs.

Summary

  • Abu Al-Faraj Al-Isbahani (or Al-Isfahani, 897--967 AD) was a literary scholar, poet, and genealogist who was born in Isfahan, in present-day Iran, but lived much of his life in Baghdad and Aleppo. Kitab al-Aghani (The book of songs) is often considered his masterpiece. A dozen or more other works by him are known. Most of them describe the indulgent social life of his times, a topical choice that prompted considerable criticism especially from clerics, some of whom went as far as to question his scholarly rigor and authenticity. Al-Isbahani named his work The Book of Songs because he based it primarily on 100 songs, originally selected by renowned musician and singer Ibrahim Al-Mosili, to be sung for his patrons, the Abbasid caliphs Harun Al-Rashid and Al-Wathiq. It was said that it took Al-Isbahani 50 years to complete the book, before he dedicated it to Seif ud-Dawla, the emir of Aleppo. The book consists of three parts: a selection of songs that Al-Mosili performed for his caliph patrons, stories of caliphs and their relatives who composed song melodies, and other songs of Al-Isbahani's own selection.

Names

  • Abū al-Faraj al-Iṣbahānī, 897 or 8-967 Author.

Created / Published

  • Cairo : Dar Al-Kutub Press, [1927 to 1938]

Headings

  • -  Iran, Islamic Republic of
  • -  Iraq
  • -  Syrian Arab Republic
  • -  897 to 967
  • -  Caliphs
  • -  Musicians
  • -  Songs, Arabic

Notes

  • -  Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
  • -  Original resource extent: Volumes 1-4 and 6-11.
  • -  Original resource at: Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
  • -  Content in Arabic.
  • -  Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.

Medium

  • 1 online resource.

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2021666165

Online Format

  • compressed data
  • pdf
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress is unaware of any copyright or other restrictions in the World Digital Library Collection. Absent any such restrictions, these materials are free to use and reuse. Researchers are encouraged to review the source information attached to each item. For information on contacting WDL partner organizations, see this archived list of partners

The Library asks that researchers approach the materials in this collection with respect for the culture and sensibilities of the people whose lives, ideas, and creativity are documented here.

Credit Line: [Original Source citation], World Digital Library

More about Copyright and other Restrictions

For additional information and contact information for many of the partner organizations, see this archived capture of the World Digital Library site from 2021.

For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Abū Al-Faraj Al-Iṣbahānī, 897 Or 8-967 Author. The Book of Songs. [Cairo: Dar Al-Kutub Press, to 1938, 1927] Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021666165/.

APA citation style:

Abū Al-Faraj Al-Iṣbahānī, 8. O. 8. A. (1927) The Book of Songs. [Cairo: Dar Al-Kutub Press, to 1938] [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021666165/.

MLA citation style:

Abū Al-Faraj Al-Iṣbahānī, 897 Or 8-967 Author. The Book of Songs. [Cairo: Dar Al-Kutub Press, to 1938, 1927] Pdf. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021666165/>.