In 1998, Algerian-Egyptian music composer Abdel-Menem Saeid reached a distinctive fusion he proudly calls his own, after he had experimented with different sounds and ideas for years. His goal has always been to create a musical and cultural dialogue between oriental and classical music.
In 1999, Saeid founded the Yorka project, basing the band on a concept of teamwork. And in 2001, Yorka Band gave its first concert at the Cairo Opera House to an enthusiastic audience. In the same year, he was honored during the Cairo International Music Festival at Salah Edidn Citadel in August, 2001. Since then, the group gave 34 concerts, 31 of them were at the Cairo Opera House.
In his compositions, Saeid blends two different music genres. To create his unique music, Saeid decided to compose Andalusian music giving it a touch of Algerian Maloof tempos and arranging it in a classical style. Piano, western and oriental percussions, Ney (oriental flute), Spanish guitar and other string instruments are the backbone of Saeid’s music.
Saeid’s Algerian heritage was one of the aspects that attracted him to the Andalusian civilization as the countries of the North African Al Maghreb Al Arabi (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia) still preserve Andalusia's legacy. At one point in history, they were very close to the Spanish and Andalusian culture.
Saeid and his team members are currently working on reviving Andalusian musical heritage via an innovative, contemporary context.
Amongst Saeid's popular compositions are: Qenaa Emra'a (Mask of a Woman), Malaga, Andalusia, Shetta Lebnana (Lebanon's Winter), Algeria, Sehr El-Sharq (Magic of the East), Al-Neda'a (The Calling), Qartaj, Youm Fi Hayat Teft (A Day in Child's Life), Mawwal Andalusi (An Andalusian Mawwal), Qasba, Fantasy, Asheq (In Love), Balad El-Waleed (The Newborn's Homeland) and Al-Ghorba (Estrangement).
Yorka Band Members: • Lead Piano: Abdel Moneim Saied • Contrabass: Ahmed Amin • Cello: Ahmed Taha • Spanish Guitar: Ali Khattab • Oud(Lute): Hisham Essam • African & Latin Percussion & Conga: Hany El-Nahal • Violin: Marwa Samy • Qanoun (Dulcimer): Mohamed Samir • Oriental & African Percussion: Mohamed Saied • Oriental Percussion: Mos’ad • Drums: Dan Felmeng • Accordion: Wael El-Naggar • Ney (Oriental Egyptian Flute) & Chinese Flute: Youssef Kamal El-Din • Management & Media: Marwa Al-A'sar & Baher Awaad • Marketing: Ahmad Aboul Wafa