La Musica De Al-Andalus: La Muwassaha

Al Turath Ensemble | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 29, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Almaviva/Forte
• ASIN: B000025Q3I
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,041,526 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Music of Islamic Spain in Middle Eastern Style, September 13, 2008

By 

Dr. Debra Jan Bibel "World Music Explorer" (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: La Musica De Al-Andalus: La Muwassaha (Audio CD)

[Congratulations for finding this particular web page among the similar on Amazon.] This recording was a complete surprise, for its performance style was so different from my other CDs on classical music of al-Andalus, mainly from Morocco. While the musical source material of Islamic Spain is the same and performances are suites of maqam modes with set melodies and improvisation, the muwashasha poetry here, of which there are hundreds of compositions, are classical Arabic of the Middle East, chiefly Syria and Egypt, and of 18th century to modern times. Moreover, the Eastern style obeys strict rules of Arabian meter. Therefore, the first impression is the crisp, staccato notes and well-regulated rhythm, lacking the lilt and fluidity as well as the varied tempo found in the Western or Maghreb style. Instrumentation is also slightly different, with the Moroccan rebab missing, but the ensemble includes a chorus. The length of the recording is 75 minutes, providing fully developed selections and improvisations. In short, this album, which includes extensive notes on the music, demonstrates how music of Islamic Spain spread into the Eastern Arab lands and adapted to their musical ethos.