Mohammed Al-Senan

Mohammed Al-Senan ( _ar. محمد السنان) is a Saudi Arabian music/song composer. He is considered as one of the pioneers in this field, although he is not as famous as his peers such as Tariq Abdulhakeem and Saraj Omar, and his music works were not that popular, mainly because Al-Senan was not relying on music composition as his source of income, and did not practice it on a commercial scale, but rather focused on international festivals.

Al-Senan was one among very few people who joined the first unofficial and non-accredited oriental music education class in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia in 1962, under the tutelage of the late Jordanian Music Conductor "Tawfiq Jadd". From the students of this class, Mr. Jadd established the first music band in Saudi Arabia the "Al-Khobar Orchestra", which was later renamed "The Silver Band". Al-Senan's first instrument was the violin but it was replaced with the "Oud" an Arabian music instrument with five or six double strings, the ancestor of the lute.

In 1969, Al-Senan joined Dammam TV Music Band for about one year, as a violin player. During the same period he established and led his own music band in Al-Qatif - Saudi Arabia, called "Al-Amal Music Band", which did not last long due to his involvement in anti-government political activities which resulted in his arrest and was put in prison for almost three years.

After his release, Al-Senan migrated with his family to Kuwait, where he spent ten years, during which time he did not practice any musical activities. He was mainly focusing on his own trading business.

In 1980, he returned to Saudi Arabia to join Bechtel Arabia Co. Ltd., in Jubail Industrial City, and two years later he transferred to Saudi Petrochemical Company "SADAF" (a subsidiary of SABIC) where he served in many managerial positions until September 2003.

Contributions and prizes

Al-Senan composed music for various famous singers in the Middle East, and his latest work was the "Nagham Wa Tarab 2001" album, which consists of six songs for Suzan Attiyah, Angham, Samrah, Najlaa Mohammed and Hussain Guraish

One of his greatest contributions is his composition of the music for the song "Almuntakhab Ezz Al-Watan" which was performed by Saudi singer "Hussain Guraish", as a special request from Saudi Ministry Of Information, on the occasion of the Saudi Arabia national football team participation in the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

He won the 7th place prize in the Second Cairo International Song Festival, which was held in Cairo, Egypt during the period from 31 July to 6 August 1996, with a song for which he composed the music, for "Islam Al-Ameer" titled "Bahlam Belnoor" which means "I dream of light".

He was invited by Egyptian TV, Channel 2 to serve in the Jury Panel for two sessions of the singing competition program which is called "Arab Stars".

In 1998, he represented Saudi Arabia in the 1st Nile International Child Song Festival" in Cairo, Egypt, sponsored by Egyptian first lady "Suzanne Mubarak", and organized under the supervision of the FIDOF, a subsidiary of the UNESCO, with the song which he composed the music for the child "Mohammed Abdul-Azeem", entitled "Bahibik Ya-Mama" which means (I love you Mom), lyrics written by the poet "Sameer Al-Tayer". Al-Senan music work won the first place prize, besting music composers from USA, Great Britain, France, Australia and other countries from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

He participated in the 5th Cairo International Song Festival, which was held in Cairo, Egypt, during the period from 21 to 29 August 1999, with two songs for which he composed the music. The first song was performed by the male Saudi singer "Saleh Saad" and was entitled "Ya Ibn Adam", which means "You the Son of Adam", written by the Saudi poet "Ali Aseeri", and the second song was performed by the female Egyptian singer "Najlaa Mohammed", and entitled "Wahdak Hinak", which means "You are lonesome over there", written by "Badawi Mubarak".

Al-Senan was repeatedly invited to serve in the arbitration panel in the Oscar International Video Clip Festival, under the immediate supervision of the FIDOF. He served in the first festival which was held in "Hurghada" in October 2000, in the second festival which was held in "Alexandria" in 2001, the third one which was held in "Sharm El-Sheikh" in 2002 and lastly the fourth festival which was held again in "Sharm El-Sheikh" in 2003.

Mohammed Al-Senan who refuses to rest on his musical laurels and has continued composing for top singers in the Arab world. Some of his unforgettable compositions are "Shyfak, Ain Al-Hawa, Wa-ad Al-Amal and Minhu Gaddak".

Indeed, Al-Senan's music has came a long way, from that humble beginning with the "Silver Band" in Al-Khobar, to the International musical arenas and stages. He took home various awards for his lasting compositions and life's various melodies.