Sueno de al Zaqqaq [Import]

Luis Delgado | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 3, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Nube Negra Records
• ASIN: B00000HXTT
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #579,379 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Balansiya

2. El Saludo (The Greeting)

3. La Aurora Nocturnal (The Nocturnal Dawn)

4. La Luna Nueva (The New Moon)

5. Bebiendo al Alba (Drinking at Dawn)

6. El Cinturón y el Brazalete (The Belt and the Bracelet)

7. La Luz de la Axarquía (The Light of Axarquía)

8. Rosas en el Estanque (Roses in the Pool)

9. La Mirada (The Look)

10. Amanecer en la Mar (Dawn over the Sea)

11. La Ruta del Marfil Negro (The Route of Black Ivory)

12. Epitafio (Epitaph)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A spectacular recording, truly wonderful., February 1, 2001

By 

Scott Shuster (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sueno de al Zaqqaq (Audio CD)

First I stumbled on "Mudejar" by Begona Olavide (see my review), and then on "El Sueno de El Zaqqaq" by Luis Delgado. Now I've picked up this other Delgado CD, "Calamus, The Splendor of Al Andalus" -- ALL THREE of these are must-own CDs that have greatly enhanced our quality of life here in Manhattan. I did a little web searching on Delgado this morning ... and found his website,... where his other works dating back to the 70s are listed. I'll be searching for and buying them all, I assure you. This medieval Spanish/Arab music transports one to another world altogether. It's medieval, it's Spanish, and it's Arab all rolled into one -- that's what "Andalus" music is. Andalus music, while medieval in origin, is a living genre of popular music too. There's plenty of current Andalusian music out there: I stumbled on it recently in Fez (Morocco) where it manifests as a kind of popular festive music, often available only on cassette and serving mainly its local market -- places like the south side of the old city of Fez (Fes el-Bali) where the "Andalusians" live (having fled there when they were rousted out of Spain at the end of the 15th century). From Delgado, Olavide and their collaborators we are receiving beautifully produced classical 'Andalus' music straight from Spain. These are spectacular recordings on period instruments (Delgado has an enormous collection of old instruments), extremely evocative sounds that create better 'atmosphere' than any music I have ever heard. This is the best medieval music in the world, I'm convinced. These artists know that they are reaching a modern market of sensitive individuals who appreciate the best of stereophonic high fidelity and they deliver it to great effect. By the way, if you like Arab or Turkish popular music and have a desire to delve into the related realm of classical music, these are the CDs for you. This is classical music with rhythm you can dance to! The rhythm work, by the way, seems to be done by one Eduardo Paniagua, who also has his own CDs out. As a collaborator with Luis and Begona I suspect his work is probably also great -- I'm eager to buy his CDs and find out! Thank you Luis Delgado and Begona Olavide for introducing me to this music! Send me an e-mail if you are coming to New York, please! We'd love to take you out for a great meal and a night on the town -- just out of gratitude.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Arabic/world music, June 13, 2000

By 

Thomas Gryn (Washington D.C., USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sueno de al Zaqqaq (Audio CD)

Luis Delgado's "El Sueno de Al-Zaqqaq" (translated, "The Dream of Al-Zaqqaq") is an excellent example of how the recent increase of interest in 'world music' has made previously-unheard material accessible to Western audiences. The CD is a collection of the works of 11th-century Valencian poet Ibn Al-Zaqqaq set to music. Delgado plays on traditional Arabic instruments such as the santur and tar, which gives the music an exotic touch while complimenting the singing of Aurora Moreno and Mohame El Arabi Serhini, the principal vocalists. The range of Moreno and El Arabi Serhini is stunning, and they are equally adept at conveying the passion as well as the serenity of Al-Zaqqaq's poetry. An additional bonus on the CD insert is the story of Al-Zaqqaq, as well as English translations of the poetry sung in Arabic on the album. This CD is easily in the class of Vox's "Divine Rites" and Dudley/Coleman's "Songs from the Victorious City", and fans of either CD will find much to like in Delgado's work. Followers of Arabic and world music can only hope that a re-release of this CD will be forthcoming in the future, for, as Stephen Hill once said, "If you dream half as well as Al-Zaqqaq, you are indeed blest."

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Entrancing Traditional Instruments, June 11, 2001

By 

Shahin M. Mowzoon "the book collector" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sueno de al Zaqqaq (Audio CD)

I discovered this album by listening to the samples on Amazon.com. I purchased it immediately! It seems to be a blend of ancient instruments and timeless chants. These haunting melodies are based on arabic poetry and traditional middle-eastern instruments such as ude and santoor/dolcimer. Highly recommended.