Customer Reviews

Sufi Chants From Cairo

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
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This is a wonderful collection of sufi music. It starts with adhan, the call to prayer, then continues with recitation of the Qoran and the invocation of Allah's names. The chants are beautiful and it concludes with prayers on the Prophet Mohammad(peace be upon him) together with the story of his birth in Arabic. I loved this CD especially for the dhikr (invocation) and the salawat-i sharifa (prayers on the Prophet). The whole CD is one big prayer to God chanted with humility and joy at the same time. It's a transporting experience. I recommend it to both muslims and non-muslims, to all those who would like to get a taste of Islamic sprirituality.

This is an excellent CD. The highest production values were maintained throughout. From the adhan to the end of the CD, I was enthralled. The reciter is obviously well trained and inspired. This CD has absolutely no weaknesses. Everyone interested in the traditions of Islamic mysticism will be thrilled to own this recording.

It is relatively easy for adults to have an appreciation for this form of dhikr(remembrance); what is interesting is that since receiving it, the melodies within this CD were so enchanting that my 5 year old son and 2 year old daughter have been sneaking it away to their room to listen to it on their own. An incredible experience, really, because obviously even children can recognize when people make incantations that are honest and from within one's soul.

This is beautiful ambient trance music, dont agree at all with the reviewer from Peking, China.
I use this as background music for healing therapies and people love it.
Not just for mystics or muslims.1961

For those looking for authentic Sufi music, this is a great recording with none of those remix effects so prevalent on studio releases these days. Unornamented by any technological wizardry, this recording shows all the power, passion and intensity of nothing short of raw faith itself - faith in the power of God and His Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). This particular recording focuses on the Chadhiliyya Brotherhood (various spellings) in Cairo, a particularly old and venerable order that is spread throughout much of North Africa (and beyond). Famous Chadhilis include Sheikh Ahmad al-Alawi, Sheikh Ahmed Zarruq, Sheikh Abd Al-Hadi Aqhili, Abu Madyan and many of the Sheikhs of al-Azhar University. As such, it is a very good choice to represent the Sufi traditions of the Arab world. And it's purely religious music here - the adhan (Call to Prayer), recitation from the Holy Qur'an ('Imran and Fatih), prayers, the Hadra ritual (an esoteric Sufi ritual), songs in praise of God and His Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). If that doesn't sound up your alley, then go elsewhere. But if you want to explore the mystical heart of Islam, then this CD would be a good place to start. As with other releases from the Institut du Monde Arabe, it includes full liner notes in both English and French. An excellent buy, and good look into the world of Sufism.

In our culture, which is so overloaded with junk noise, we have forgotten how much emotion the unaccompanied human voice can convey. Everything inessential is stripped away on this CD; there's a lot of silence on it, thank God, which leaves room for us to experience the power of these voices. The first track alone is worth twice the price.

I was looking for 'call to prayer' type of works from the middle east. When I was in Istanbul I enjoyed waking to the 'call to prayer' each day. Unfortunately, the gamble on this CD did not get the results I was looking for. I would recommend sampling with all the CD's in the World section unless you are familiar with them. Unfortunately, Amazon appears not to offer that service with any reliability.

At present, three recordings of Egyptian Sufi music are available and this review will describe commonality and their key differences. Sufism, as other mystical sects of various religions, have different schools or brotherhoods, although they share approaches: chiefly repetiton (like mantras and holotropic breathing) of "Allah", usually accompanied by in-place movement or more vigorous dancing, Qur'anic recition, and inspiring hymns or såma'a. [The Turkish and Syrian Sufi schools include the dervishes whose stately whirling are well known.] The Sufi gathering is a hadra and dhikrs are the rituals and practices.

La Chådhiliyya, Sufi Chants from Cairo [Instut de Monde Arabe], features hymnist/munshid Sheikh Mohamed al-Helbawy and 14 accompanists as chorus. The recordings are of the series of dhikr, hymns, and liturgies from the calling to prayer to the invocation. No instruments are involved; only clapping sometimes occur. The listener becomes sensitive to the passionate quality of the singer and the gravity of the rite. This is not a field recording and there is no sense of community. I found the album rather arid and was not moved.

Also featuring Mohamed al-Helbawy is the recording Egyptian Sufi [ARC]. The recording has more echo, or depth, and is clearer. Also, instruments are included: a kawala flute and drum. Here, the choir consists of four members; two others are musicians. Only hymns are offered; there is no sense of dhikr exercises as suggested in the above album. However, the superior quality of the engineering plus the addition of instruments make the album more inspiring, more effective. al-Helbawy seems stronger, richer in voice, too.

The 2-CD alubm of Sheikh Admad al-Tuni, the Sultan of All Munshidin [Wagram] was recorded in Theatre de la Ville in Paris. He is accompanied by nine singers and musicans, who play oud, ney flute, kamanga violin, and drums (riqq, tabaleh, naqrazan). As cantor, al-Tuni has charisma in his voice. Bathing in the enveloping sound of the instruments, his phrasing and repetitions and has power (much like a flamenco singer...a historical offshoot). The songs are slow and meditative with oud improvisations leading to fast, rhythmic dancing. While a concert, there is dhikr spirit, as no doubt the audience must be swaying in their seats. Samå is manifest. These recordings are the best of the lot.

This is very austere Muslim chant. Unless you really appreciate such singing, refrain from buying this cd. I think only deep faith could make it bearable for Western ears.