Customer Reviews

Music in Egypt: Experiencing Music, Expressing Culture Includes CD (Global Music)

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[Actually 4.5 stars] The quality of the various books in the Global Music Series varies, of course, as much as with the author as with the form and location of the music examined. Some such books bog down in the nuances of the particular music; others spend too much time in social and historic matters. Similarly, the accompanying CD may offer examples that are too short or too involved in demonstrating form and not the overall effect. Marcus achieves the best balance of both text and example. His writing is engaging and the historical and sociological development of Egyptian music is clearly presented. The detailed analysis of Umm Kulthum and her musical example is so exciting that one is anxious to actually hear it. The CD itself is so good that it can stand alone; 65 minutes of samples of genre pass by before the didactic section begins, which are scales of maqam and rhythmic examples. A reader/listener can learn much quickly and easily from perusing this book. It can lead to further study and appreciation of Arabic music and thereby the culture as well.