Lost Songs of Palestine

Traditional Palestinian folk songs, which have recently (or not so recently) given way to more politically-informed, often angry songs. The feel here though is Old School Middle East. The performers, but for the leader, are diaspora musicians living in western Massachusetts. The songs are the usual stuff of traditional music – love, ritual, ceremony, passages, celebrations. As such, there is a varied, though inevitably warm, feel to the songs. The instruments include, of course, the traditional saz and bozouk (long-necked lutes), oud (short-neck lute), frame and other drums, flute, violin, and both male and female vocals. Happy stuff, and where not happy, exquisitely beautiful. I heartily recommend all of these songs!

1. Upbeat love song, recognizable as an example of “Arabic folk dance”
2. Simpler, sadder musical picture of love as a fleeting experience, very subtle and beautiful arrangement
3. Uptempo instrumental featuring some intricate pick-work, a percussion solo
4. A “greeting song”, AKA call-and-response; each musician plays a short melody and the ensemble answers with the same melody
5. Melancholy melody, suffering heart lyrics
6. Celebratory dance
7. Sinuous, sad, minor-key melody, though the tempo is far from grave; excellent evocation of courage plus trepidation
8. Disorienting instrumental piece; the harmonics are way exotic to Western ears
9. Famous as a dance of Arab, Turkish, and Persian countries; hence you may have heard it as belly-dancer music
10. The dialogue between the female singer and male chorus is pleasant; the loping rhythm is body-moving