Customer Reviews

Legendary Art of Mugham

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The physical power of Alim Qasimov's voice simply cannot be conveyed by a recording, although his interpretative art and passion of the classical mugham (maqam) modes can be appreciated. (I heard him as part of Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Project.) This 1997 live concert recording introduces on two tracks Alim Qasimov's daughter, then age 18, on vocal and daf drum. His supporting musicians on tar lute and kamancha spike fiddle vary over the years; on this recording they are Malik Mansurov and his brother Eisen Mansurov, respectively. The long second track presents mugham shour, in which Qasimov slowly developes the mood with poetic lyrics; his improvisations bring the listener deeper into the emotion. Classical mughams, like Hindustani ragas, have free and rhythmic sections, but are composed of suites of greater and lesser intensity but ends at a peak of feeling. As in many North Indian classical concerts, the final work is a light classical or folk tune. Enjoy the ride!

Excellent album revealing the true spiritual value of mugham and demonstrating its best patterns performed by famous Alim Qasimov.