Born: Unknown (circa 700), Unknown
Died: Unknown (700s
Country most active: Syria
Also known as: Selema al Cas, Selamet ol-Kass
Sallama Al-Qass was one of the four most famous songstresses of the Umayyad era, alongside Jamila (her teacher), Habbaba and Sallama al-Zarqa. Enslaved by a Quraish noble, his son sold her to Yazid II before he became caliph for 3,000 pieces of gold. Both during his rule and after his death, she held significant political and musical influence at the court, and gained her freedom.
She studied in Medina and took the name “Qass” from a pious Qu’ran scholar there who reportedly loved her but controlled his ardor due to holy fear of sexual passion. She specialized in funeral songs, often moving her listeners to weep.
Source: The International Encyclopedia of Women Composers