Mostar Sevdah Reunion

Mostar Sevdah Reunion | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 22, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Times Square Records
• ASIN: B00005CC4Y
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #136,086 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Asik Osta Na Te Oci: I Feel in Love With Your Eyes

2. Mujo Kuje Knoje Po Mjesscu: Mujo Shoes the Horses in the Moonlight

3. Mostarski Ducani: The Bazaars of Mostar

4. U Stambolu Na Bosforu: In Istanbul on the Bosphorous

5. Dul Zulejah: Zuleiha the Rose

6. Moj Dilbere: My Heartthrob

7. Kradem Ti Se U Veceri: At Night I Steal Upon You

8. U Lijepom Starom Gradu Visegradu: In Beautiful Old Town Visegrad

9. Snijeg Pade Na Behar, Na Voce: Snow Is Falling on Blossoms and Fruits

10. Psenicica Sitno Sjeme: Tiny Seed of Weat

11. Daurko Mila: Sweet Giaur (Infidel) Girl

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

During the Bosnian war, musicians in Mostar met by candlelight to quietly perform the bluesy Turkish-influenced café songs called sevdah. After the war, vocalist Illijaz Delic, accordionist Mustafa Santic, and other musicians recreated the spirit of the wartime concerts for Sevdah Reunion. The sevdah genre mines the deepest human emotions, holding nothing back in its examination of the terrible beauty of life. There is a mysterious intensity to almost every note, turning even a song about shoeing horses by moonlight ("Mujo Kuje Konje Mjescu") into an enigma of great emotional force. Pile-driver of a love song, "Dul Zulejha" (Zuleiha the Rose) swells with inexplicable urgency. Its lyrics about the morning wanderings of a country girl seem out of proportion to the militant tempo and almost unbearable tension of the thumping accordion, bass, and drum arrangement. The belly-dance rhythm of the faster songs lightens the mood with violin solos that suggest the fire of Balkan gypsy songs. On "Moj Dilbere," "queen of the gypsies" Esma Redzepova takes a whip-crack dance rhythm as her own, trading verses with Delic with passion and ribald underpinnings matched by braying reeds. The strictly local flavor can occasionally make Sevdah Reunion a little difficult to penetrate. But the lack of concessions to an international audience gives this superbly performed disc an undiluted power to enthrall. --Bob Tarte

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A true jewel in Bosnian folk music collection, February 16, 2004

By 

Adis (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mostar Sevdah Reunion (Audio CD)

I grew up playing Bosnian music and I must say this CD does a fantastic job in representing folk music from Bosnia Herzegovina. The CD is a master piece, from song selection to CD cover which even includes lyrics translated into English. International music lovers will keep it right next to "Buena Vista Social Club" CD. Watch for other upcoming MOSTAR SEVDAH REUNION releases ("Secret Gate", etc.)
Enjoy it!!!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bittersweet memories of Mostar, May 26, 2003

By 

"andrei1017" (Burlingame, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mostar Sevdah Reunion (Audio CD)

I agree with all other's comments here. Hearing "U Lijepom Starom Gradu Visegradu" on the Rough Guide cd of Balkan music was enough to convince me I have to have their cd as soon as possible! I love sevdalinka so much and this recording is very REAL and soulful. It reminds me visiting Mostar in 1989, with it's incredibly beautiful 16th c. bridge, stari most; a painful memory when you think of all that happened shortly after - nema stari most. Many lives and much irreplaceble beauty was destroyed but apparently some spirit survives!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reminding me on nights when we sang songs like that, March 14, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Mostar Sevdah Reunion (Audio CD)

I was extremly pleased when I heard this CD. I'm sorry I was not present during this performance. It is simply wonderful.