Classical And Folkloric Arabic Music

Aswat, “Classical and Folkloric Arabic Music, Winter Concert 2009” (self-produced, 2009)

Reviewed by Abu Ramses – ALL TRACKS FCC CLEAN

Live recording of the winter 2009 sell-out concert of Aswat (Voices), a 35 member Arabic Music Ensemble which celebrated its tenth year in January 2010. The music spans the range of the Arabic repertoire from instrumentals on the oud and violin to solo and ensemble vocals.

Try tracks 1, 7, 12, 13, 14

Tracks
1. al-Hubb al-awwal (The First love) – upbeat instrumental; tambourine & violin. Composed by the greatest male singer of 20th century Arab music, Muhammad Abd al-Wahhab (1907-1991).
2. Ya asmar al-lawn (Oh brown skinned one) – Egyptian folk song. Mid-tempo choral vocal
3. Rubbama (Perhaps) – solo vocal backed by wood flute (ney) and guitar. Palestinian resistance song based on poem by Samih al-Qasim.
4. Unadikum (I call to you)– choral vocal backed by ney & darbuka (goblet drum) Song by Ahmad Qaboor, based on a poem by the late Palestinian-Israeli poet and political figure Tawfiq Zayyad.
5. al-Hilwa di (This Sweetness)– mid-tempo piano and choral. Music by the greatest early 20th century reviver of Arabic music, Sayyid Darwish. Conductor Sari Dowidar on the piano
6. Tayr al-Wirwar (The Bee Eater bird)– upbeat female solo & chorus
7. Muhammad Fawzi medley – the entire ensemble, upbeat
8. Ulli a'malak eh albi – (My heart, tell me what to do) Another Abd al-Wahhab tune from Egypt featuring vocal by Hussein Rassam
9. Dame La Libertad – solo and choral flamenco-style. Like Gypsy Kings.
10. Mawwal – slow male solo by Sari Dowidar. A classical musical form
11. Iranian music improv with Mohammad Nejad on Santour
12. Adduka al-Mayyas – slow, oud solo intro to a Turkish folk song by the chorus
13. Risala min taht al-maa' – slow, male solo vocal in Andalusian muwashshah style backed by the ensemble
14. Siret al-Hubb (The Secret of Love) slow, female vocal backed by the ensemble. Composed for the great diva of Arab music, Umm Kulsum.
15. Taqsim on violin – mid-tempo, violin solo improv by Sari Dowidar
16. Palestinian medley - Dal'una, Ya Zarif al-Tul, Jafra. Lots of enthusiasm. Chorus doesn’t seem very tight on this one.