Fall Of The Moon/Suqut Al-Qamar Cd 1

Marcel Khalifé & Mahmoud Darwish Fall of the Moon/ Suqut al-Qamar
Nagam Records (2012) ALL TRACKS FCC CLEAN Reviewed by Abu Ramses

Oud master & singer Marcel Khalifé, “the Arab Bob Dylan,” with the Al Mayadine Ensemble he founded in 1976 & the Kiev Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Vladimir Sirinko put poetry of the late Palestinian poet, Mahmoud Darwish (1949-2008) to music. Khalifé’s oud playing & vocals, even with western orchestration, are unpretentious - an emblem of progressive Arab culture. The 2 CD album is Khalifé’s homage to Darwish. The music is highly emotional; Khalifé regards Darwish as his “heart's artistic twin.” Lyrical themes, like a self-composed eulogy, examine exile, loss & the delicate connections between people passing quickly through life as well as exuberance for love & the erotic. Soloists: Oumeima Khalil & Yolla Khalifé, vocals; Rami Khalifé, piano; Bachar Khalifé, percussion; Peter Herbert & Mark Helias, double bass; Ismail Lumanovski, clarinet; Anthony Millet, accordion; Fabio Presgrave, cello; Mahmoud Tourkmani, guitar.

Try 2, 4, 7, 9
Tracks
Disc: 1
1. The Pigeons Fly – slow, pensive piano by Rami; then Marcel’s vocal & oud - 9:41
2. And We Love Life – dark, piano-syncopated vamp with oud, bass & Marcel’s vocal - 7:48
3. The Stranger's Bed – Sonata-like instrumental with cello & piano solos - 4:51
4. Oh, My Proud Wound-Piano & clarinet solos; driving vocal & oud by Marcel-3:42
5. Muhammad - sad image of a child in a battle zone; a-cappella by Oumeima -9:04
6. Houriyeh's Instructions – slow clarinet intro, then ensemble & pensive vocal by Yolla building to a duet with Marcel- 13:08
7. Jahar Kah – bright, up-tempo instrumental led by the oud (Jaharkah is one of the modes of Middle Eastern music) - 2:13
8. Now, In Exile – brooding cello & percussion intro to 3:45; then Marcel on oud and vocal - 12:14
9. Two Guitars – Andalusian style guitar duet, instrumental - 5:39

Try 4, 5, 8, 9