Customer Reviews

Ancient Egypt

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I was fortunate to hear this music while I was in Egypt on a cruise of the Nile. I disagree with those who feel it isn't authentic and doesn't use accurate instruments. Racy uses many ancient Egyptian instruments, even the sistrum, a kind of Egyptian tambourine you see depicted in the reliefs in the tombs. And to my ear, the haunting music calls up images of ancient processions and celebrations. I believe he's captured the essence of ancient Egypt and would recommend it highly. It's also good meditation music.

I have many "Ancient Egyptian" themed CD's in my collection, but of all of them I enjoy this one the most because Ali Jihad Racy has endeavored to keep the music as close to what the ancients themselves would probably have done. Just to emphasize how good I feel this album is, I have an alarm clock that has a CD player - it is the one I put on nearly every night to relax, meditate or even fall asleep to. Racy has impeccibly researched the music and the effect is nothing less than phenomenal.

This CD is the epitome of Ancient Egyptian Music. I have not purchased a finer CD than this! The use of traditional Middle Eastern instruments is what makes it so special, and it literally transports you back 3000 years to the Nile Valley. It says on the package that this music was played during the exhibit of King Tutankhamun so it is therefore very representational of music during the time of the ancient Egyptians. I highly recommend this CD to anyone who appreciates beautiful, mystical music.

I'm not an expert on Egyptian music or Middle Eastern music so I can't attest to its authenticity, but nonetheless the cd is absolutely beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! I'm addicted to the soothing sounds! If your aim is relaxation and/or inspiration, this is an incredible collection! I love the fact that it calls to mind music from so many cultures - Native American, Asian, Middle Eastern, etc. - and I can't help but feel that perhaps Ancient Egyptian music would have been one of the predecessors of many of these musical cultures! So, why shouldn't it sound a bit like all of them?

As the first CD I've bought with "Ancient Music" on it I was impressed, but since I've heard other CD's of music from Egypt and Greece, I found this one more orchestrated. Not that that takes away from it's listening pleasure but the others gave me more of a feel of the Ancient times the music is supposed to represent. It is made to represent ancient music while some of the others are based on actual written music (or so they say) that had been found on scrolls. All in all it was an excellent way to begin my journey into the past.

This cd is soft and pleasant. It sounded a bit more Asian than Egyptian. There weren't any drum beats used, so if you're looking for something a bit more melodic and soft, this is it.

Some what a break from the Phil Thornton and Hossam Ramzy mood, yet still in perfect tune with Ancient Egypt, the land of my dreams.... It doesn't have that many fast paced melodies if that what your looking for, or that New Agish sound, but it doesn't get as realistic as Ankh: The sound of Ancient Egypt, it very good mellow Ancient Egyptian ambience, could make for a nice movie soundtrack.

I haven't been able to get enough of this music lately. It's lovely, evocative, and perfect background for serious reading or thinking. The music was written as background for the Seattle Art Museum Tutankhamun Exhibit and must have inspired those viewing the exhibit to think seriously about the meaning of the art they saw, the meaning of the young king's life, and perhaps the meaning of their own. Jihad Racy is highly skilled and probably promotes intercultural understanding with his music. It's fun to listen to the old and/or traditional instruments. Perhaps ancient Egyptian music was not truly like this music, but for the sake of the Egyptians, I hope it was.

"This musical tribute to ancient Egypt was originally composed in 1978 for the King Tutankhamun Exhibit at the Seatle Art Museum. It was inspired by the artistry of the ancient treasures and the religious symbolism of the Egyptian Book of the Dead which suggested the titles of the compositions ... The recording is unique in that it is the creation of an accomplished Arab artist who captures the essence of Near Eastern sound and presents it in a contemporary innovative musical idiom ... Only traditional Near Eastern instruments were used in making this recording ... The music incorporates Near Eastern elements such as melodic ornamentation and drone accompaniment. Yet it possesses a distinctly abstract and ethereal quality enhanced by an emphasis on non-metric, free-flowing rhythm and pentatonicism ..."

Half a world away from Egypt yet I can get there in a matter of seconds with this CD and I have traveled there a countless times.