Iraqi Music in a Time of War

Rahim AlHaj (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Rahim AlHaj
• Audio CD (October 10, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Voxlox
• ASIN: B000142MXS
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #233,299 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Village Voice, November 10, 2003
"I'm impressed by how modest virtuosity can be in a classical tradition that honors simplicity...notes bridge East/West."

Product Description
"When I arrived in New York, I was witnessing Iraq's third war during my lifetime. But this time the war was very different for me; I was not there with my family, and I had no news from them. Yet day to day life for me was as excruciating as if I was in Baghdad. So I wanted to communicate to my audience my experience of war, the pain and the misery one feels in a hopeless situation where chaos reigns and loved ones die. I found New York a bustling city, but when I was there I did not see people smiling. I sense that my audience that night felt the despair that I was feeling, and when we came together, it was a catharsis.

To play music in a time of war is to connect, to feed people with hope, and to hold onto my hope of someday seeing my mother's beautiful face once again. Her last words to me were: "I hope your cruise missiles don't kill me before I see you again". Music joings people in their souls, and when this connection happens, peace,love, and compassion can fill the hands of humanity".

--Rahim Al Haj

"My strongest memory from our New York time together is of the feeling that moved through the room as Rahim played for us that night, comforting our upset and laying bare his own. Listen again now to this intensely war-torn moment, and imagine, in solidarity with Rahim, how music can advocate for compassion, love and peace".

--Steven Feld, Voxlox record Label, Ethnomusicologist, University of New Mexico, previously of Columbia University

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars One Man, in a Time of War, October 3, 2008

By	Giordano Bruno (Wherever I am, I am.) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Rahim Alhaj plays the oud, an instrument similar in shape to a European lute, and he plays it very well. The sound is throatier than the lute; the strings are thicker and slacker, and the instrument is not fretted. Iraqi classical music uses bent pitches and fractional pitches - quite subtle tunings that take some time to sound "right" - and relies on the sensitive improvisation of the player to make its musical impression.

This is not the best CD to hear Rahim Alhaj's musical range and skill. For that, I recommend his CD "When the Soul is Settled." The numerous short 'songs' on this CD are all, I think, Rahim's own compositions, but what makes this CD distinct is that he introduces each song, in English, by describing the conditions of his country that he wants to reflect in music. The intros are short - a minute, a minute and a half - but poignant.

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!, September 16, 2007

By	MatthewT (Urbana, IL) - See all my reviews

I recently heard Rahim in concert, and the experience was fantastic. I picked this CD because it is a live recording (rather than a studio recording). I'm very happy with the quality, and also like the format (keeping the spoken introductions, but also keeping them separate so you can skip them after you've heard them a few times).

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Music, October 30, 2006

By	Tango (USA) - See all my reviews

I have all of Raheem's CD's. I enjoy listening to them over and over as I like descovering new notes in what initially may seem one. Checkout his work with the string quartet.