The Music of Islam Sampler

Music Of Islam (Celestial Harmonies Series) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 2, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Celestial Harmonies
• ASIN: B0000007ZA
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #234,966 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #20 in Music > World Music > Middle East > Islamic

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a superb overview, October 18, 2001

By 

Alejandra Vernon "artist & illustrator" (Long Beach, California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Music of Islam Sampler (Audio CD)

This is a great introduction to the wide range of musical styles in the Islamic world. The booklet insert, which has a lot of history on the subject, includes a map with a brush stroke from Morocco and Southern Spain to Indonesia, visually showing what a large part of the world it occupies...some of my favorite tracks are:

# 1: Baqara Surah II, 1-5. A reviewer noted that this should not be labeled "music" as it is the Word of God, and he has a point, except it's also God-inspired music ! Therefore, to my way of thinking, acceptable, and if listening to the beauty of it might incline anyone to read the Quran, so much the bettter.
# 6: Ya Rabbat El-Hussen, from Yemen. The oud solos in this piece are sumptuous, melodic, gorgeous !
# 7: Raga Bairagi Bhairva, from Pakistan. I'm not usually a big raga listener, but this one is incredibly moving, with a lot of spirit and power.
# 8: Ratep Meusuekat, from Indonesia. This is the one track on this CD that's a new musical form for me...sung by a children's chorus, it's a delight.
# 14: Mawal 1, from Tunisia. A glorious piece, with alternating parts for voice and a wind instrument.
# 15: Scene Inauguration, from Morocco. A rousing instrumental, this Sufi ceremonial music is energetic and at times dissonant. it's also the longest piece on this CD at 9:17.
Total running time is 78:13, for this fascinating musical tour across a large part of this planet, and the recording engineers did a terrific job with the sound, which is excellent throughout.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent composit of the genre, October 26, 1999

By 

Richard N. Schultz (Orlando, FL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Music of Islam Sampler (Audio CD)

For those of us interested in the cultural origins of the islamic world, this album is a 'must'. For those of us that know music to be the 'snapshot' of the philosophy and artistic creativeness of a 'people', this album provides the insight to the core of islamic belief. For those of us not fully prepared to invest the money for the complete set, this will do. (at least for the moment) The selections are truely representative of the musical spectrum of the genre and 'get better' the more one hears the subtlties and undertones captured in this CD. Highly recommended!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cant' get it out of my CD player!!!!!, August 28, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Music of Islam Sampler (Audio CD)

This CD is absolutely incredible. Anyone who has a deep appreciation for the Arab culture will adore this recording. It offers such a range of Islamic music. From Yemen to Morocco to the Phillipines, it hits every major Islamic country. It even offers a beautiful Quran recitation. If you love Arab culture I HIGHLY recommend this CD!