Toufic El Bacha

Toufic El Bacha (in Arabic توفيق الباشا) also written as Toufiq/Tawfiq el Basha/Al Basha (b. in Beirut, Lebanon 1924 - died Lebanon 2005) Lebanese renowned composer and musician.
El Basha studied playing the cello at the Conservatory of the American University of Beirut and continued later his studies under professor Bertrand Robillard. In 1949, he joined as Music Department of Jerusalem Calling Arabic Service in Ramallah known as Al Quds Radio. In 1951 until 1953, he was appointed head of "Middle East Ballet" (in Arabic باليه الشرق الأوسط) and as composer and conductor of the Ballet's orchestra. The company preented its shows in Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and India. In 1953, he joined as head of Musical Production at Radio Levant (also known as Near East Radio and in Arabic إذاعة الشرق الأدنى) until its demise in 1956.
In 1957, he was the founder of the "Lebanese Nights" at the Baalbeck International Festival creating shows for the Lebanese Night on five occasions (1957, 1959, 1964 and 1974). In 1960 he co-founded with Said Freiha of Dar Sayyad publishing house the troupe Al Anwar (in Arabic فرقة الأنوار) that presented its first show at casino Liban and toured internationally in Europe and the Middle east. El Bacha remained its composer and conductor of its orchestra.
In 1961, he took over as head of Music Department at the official Radio Liban (in Arabic الإذاعة اللبنانية). He also organized the study of muwashahat at Lebanese National Conservatory (in Arabic المعهد الموسيقي الوطني) and became the president of the Lebanese Association of Composers and Publishers from 1969 to 1986 and an honorary president until his death. Between 1986 and 2000, he also headed the National Music Committee (in Arabic اللجنة الوطنية للموسيقى) launched by the UNESCO. El Bacha was a permanent member Arabic Music League (in Arabic المجمع العربي للموسيقى) established by the Arab League (aka League of Arab States).
Toufic El Bacha has composed hundreds of songs for renowned Lebanese and Arab singers. And he has composed music for tens of traditional Arabic literary works, many films and various orchestras. His works were released in a compilation of 17 CDs in 1998. He published three books:
المختار من الموشحات الاندلسية
الايقاع في الموسيقى العربية
الكمان والارباع الصوتية
El Bacha was decorated many times by Lebanese, Arab and international authorities.