The Rough Guide to Bellydance

Amazon.com
The connotations of the title might lead you to consider this the ultimate sellout to sexual exploitation, but hang on a minute--The Rough Guide to Bellydance reflects evocation rather than provocation, and covers a vast and ancient musical terrain. The Western words belly dance probably come from an Arabic word meaning country. What French colonials called la danse du ventre and Americans first called abdomen dance is a serious and even medicinal art form that goes way back in time. We all know that dance is a healing art, and this Middle Eastern female form of it is now once more being seen as such in the West. Every small town in Germany, for instance, has a studio devoted to it. What we get on this fascinating CD is a conspectus of styles linking Turkey and Armenia to Chicago and California, where some of the best belly dance musicians now practice. Tabla players Reda Darwish and Armando el Mafufo are two of these. Oud virtuoso Rabih Abou-Khalil, who here contributes a rousing number entitled "The Happy Sheik," with trombones and Miles-style trumpets, operates from Germany. Each track brings its own particular atmosphere, ranging from a Damascene nocturnal orgy to the coolest of dalliances by fountains. The most outstanding tracks are both by Nubian drummer Mahmoud Fadl: the first builds a serene edifice of filigree solos on drums and accordion, while the second gives us a tango transfigured by the spirit of the Orient. --Michael Church

Product Description
The Rough Guide To Bellydance is a collection of magical tracks that encapsulate the power of the Middle Eastern dance they accompany. This Rough Guide includes the bellydance music played and composed by both Arabic and Western contemporary musicians from across the Middle East and North Africa as well as the US and Europe. Just tie a scarf around your hips and go for it! Ya allah!

The Rough Guide to Bellydance,Various Artists,World Music Network,Belly Dancing,Int'l & World Music,Pop,World Music

Rough Guide to Bellydance Cafe
Average customer rating:

Not enough variety for my liking

A must for beginners !

Rough Guide to Bellydance Cafe
Various Artists
Manufacturer: World Music Network
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
India | India & Pakistan | International | Styles | Music
General | India & Pakistan | International | Styles | Music
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General | Middle East | International | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000OONP3Q
Release Date: 2007-05-08

Tracks:

JALAL JOUBI ENSEMBLE - Marmar Zamani (Syria)
NAZARETH ORCHESTRA FEATURING LUBNA SALAME - Al-Atlal (Israel)
ENSEMBLE HÜSEYIN TÜRKMENLER - Söleyin Yildizlar Sevegilim Nerde (Turkey)
MOHAMMED ALI ENSEMBLE - Enta Omri (Egypt)
SAMI ALI - Ashshimtini (Egypt)
MOKHTAR AL SAID - Tabla Solo (Egypt)
SELIM SESLER - Gözyasi (Turkey)
GLYKERIA - Min Perimenis Pia (Greece)
SALATIN EL TARAB ORCHESTRA - Helm (Intro Taksim) (Syria)
SALATIN EL TARAB ORCHESTRA - Tahtihou Dajha (Syria)
SALATIN EL TARAB ORCHESTRA - Awazil Yabou Ziloof (Syria)
MAYODI - Habibi Ya Eini (Morocco)
UPPER EGYPT ENSEMBLE - Mazamir Holiday (Egypt)
SAMI NOSSAIR ORCHESTRA - Mawwal Al Hawa (Egypt)
SAMI NOSSAIR ORCHESTRA - Ala Nar (Egypt)
GIASEMI (YASMIN) & NIKOS SARAGOUDAS - Tsahpinoula Moy (Greece)
MOKHTAR AL SAID & EL FERKA EL MASAYA - Souhair's Tabla (Egypt)
MOHAMED ISKANDAR - La Tsalouni (Lebanon)

Amazon.com

This collection could be described as "bellydance with twist" as every track is energetic, catchy and lusty but also chilled-out and mysterious. While the rhythm sections certainly let it all hang out, there's just a bit held back, whether in the vocals, strings or woodwinds, not unlike the way a female raks sharki (the traditional name for the genre) dancer will flaunt undulating hips and six-pack abs while veiling her face or upper body. Historically, while no family celebration or evening in a café was complete without them, women who plied this trade faced varying degrees of social ostracism. This was partly because their profession gave them a certain degree of independence, which threatened the status quo of the male-dominated cultures they hailed from. But in modern Syria, Turkey, Egypt, Morocco, Greece, Lebanon and other countries, these ladies are for the most part recognized as the rigorously trained, exquisitely disciplined artists they have always been. Their relationship with the musicians they work with is one of equals, an uncommonly empathetic, shared act of creation not unlike that of flamenco dancers and their bands. Perhaps this is why, while listening to the tunes, sinuous, gyrating figures continuously appear at the corner of the mind's eye, fashioning wave-like susurrations around complex syncopations, goading their collaborators to ever more feverish heights. --Christina Roden

Album Description

Late night get-togethers at an outdoor cafÃ©, hookah pipes, chatter and the strong smell of coffee, are all part of the distinct flavour of Middle Eastern street life. As is the shimmying, hip-shaking music phenomenon best-known as `bellydance'. From Selim Sesler and the Salatin El Tarab Orchestra to Mokhtar Al Said and Sami Ali, The Rough Guide to Bellydance CafÃ© provides a comprehensive insight into the seductive sounds of the Orient.

Artists include- Jalal Joubi Ensemble, Nazareth Orchestra Feat. Lubna Salame, Ensemble HÃ¼seyin TÃ¼rkmenler, Mohammed Ali Ensemble, Sami Ali, Mokhtar Al Said, Selim Sesler, Glykeria, Salatin El Tarab Orchestra, Mayodi, Upper Egypt Ensemble, Sami Nossair Orchestra, Giasemi (Yasmin) & Nikos Saragoudas, Mohamed Iskander

Customer Reviews:

Not enough variety for my liking.......2007-06-27

I did not particularly enjoy this CD. I was looking for something with more variety and found there to be not enough of the gentler, more mysterious & earthy music that I personally enjoy listening to and dancing to.

A must for beginners !.......2007-05-16

It's really difficult to find a good compilation and that one seems to be a good one! I don't buy this CD because I still have most of the tracks. But for begginers in bellydance and for people who wish to discover the different styles of the music from Middle East, it's a good choice.

Average customer rating:

Raks Sharki Dance Party!
Good introduction
Great CD, Variable Music
Classical raqs sharqi music

The Rough Guide to Bellydance
Various Artists
Manufacturer: World Music Network
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

Middle East & North Africa | Compilations | International | Styles | Music

General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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ASIN: B000062X8E
Release Date: 2002-05-07

Tracks:

Tahia's Dance - Jalilah
Marhaba - Reda Darwish
Dimashq - Ahmad Fouad Hasan
Aament Bellah - Mahmoud Fadl
Enta Omri - Jalilah
Ala Jsrel Low Ziyyi - Setrak Sarkissian
Adawar - Mohamed Matar
Laz - Omar Faruk Tekbilek
Krikpinar Ciftetellisi - Kemani Cemal Cinarli
Rakiya's Tabla - Jalilah
Ana Wehabibi - Mahmoud Fadl
Arruga La Camisa - Armando El Mafufo
Aini Bet Ref - Ahmed Mneimneh
The Happy Sheik - Rabih Abou-Khalil
Raqset El Banat - Reda Darwish

Amazon.com

The connotations of the title might lead you to consider this the ultimate sellout to sexual exploitation, but hang on a minute--The Rough Guide to Bellydance reflects evocation rather than provocation, and covers a vast and ancient musical terrain. The Western words belly dance probably come from an Arabic word meaning country. What French colonials called la danse du ventre and Americans first called abdomen dance is a serious and even medicinal art form that goes way back in time. We all know that dance is a healing art, and this Middle Eastern female form of it is now once more being seen as such in the West. Every small town in Germany, for instance, has a studio devoted to it. What we get on this fascinating CD is a conspectus of styles linking Turkey and Armenia to Chicago and California, where some of the best belly dance musicians now practice. Tabla players Reda Darwish and Armando el Mafufo are two of these. Oud virtuoso Rabih Abou-Khalil, who here contributes a rousing number entitled "The Happy Sheik," with trombones and Miles-style trumpets, operates from Germany. Each track brings its own particular atmosphere, ranging from a Damascene nocturnal orgy to the coolest of dalliances by fountains. The most outstanding tracks are both by Nubian drummer Mahmoud Fadl: the first builds a serene edifice of filigree solos on drums and accordion, while the second gives us a tango transfigured by the spirit of the Orient. --Michael Church

Album Description

The Rough Guide To Bellydance is a collection of magical tracks that encapsulate the power of the Middle Eastern dance they accompany. This Rough Guide includes the bellydance music played and composed by both Arabic and Western contemporary musicians from across the Middle East and North Africa as well as the US and Europe. Just tie a scarf around your hips and go for it! Ya allah!

Customer Reviews:

Raks Sharki Dance Party!.......2006-09-29

For those of you looking for a good bellydance compilation CD, this is a great place to start. All the music on this CD is instrumental, drawing on traditional Middle Eastern instruments and musical sensibilities, and theres a very good mix of stuff here. Omar Faruk Tekbilek provides a wonderful Turkish/Caucasian/Gypsy dance song, Reda Darwish contributes a fiery drum solo, Mohamed Matar shows some virtuoso bouzuk playing, and Jalilah contributes several songs from the "Jalilah's Raks Sharki" series. Everything from Turkish Gypsy music (Kemani Cemal Cinarli) to Lebanese jazz (Rabih Abou-Khalil). But perhaps the highlight of the CD is a 12 minute dance piece by Egypt's Mahmoud Fadl. Other highlights include Ahmed Mneimneh on qanoun, classical Arabic orchestral music from Ahmad Fouad Hasan, and a lively contemporary fusion piece from Armando El Mafufo. Drawing on traditional and cabaret music from Egypt, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Armenia and beyond, this is a great place to start if you want to get some good bellydance music.

Good introduction.......2005-02-07

This CD exposes the listener to some great music. Overall the sound quality is good, and so is the music. Some tracks I liked less than others. I am looking at these songs in terms of their usefulness to me as a dancer, so keep that in mind. :)

The first song, Tahiya's Dance, is excellent. This is a great entrance song. Good sound quality and doesn't sound synthesized. Music is varied to keep things interesting. This is the kind of song every belly dancer should have at his/her disposal.

Marhaba is a 1.5 minute drum solo, which is very useful for any dancer who needs a short and sweet drum solo to insert into their routine. My only complaint about this piece is that it isn't varied enough to make a really interesting drum solo.

Dimashq, while being a very nice song, has poor sound quality. It reminds me of the sound on an old black and white movie. It sounds distant. I really do like the song, but the sound quality isn't good enough for me to use it for anything. So it's good exposure to something new, but not really usable.

Aament Bellah is another great song. Love the music, good sound quality. The music is slow with nice juicy, heavy beats to play with and a playfully sensual melody to use as well. It speeds up and slows down several times and changes to keep things interesting while still retaining the same feeling. It even has a small drum solo part near the end. There is lots of play room in this song. I have seen sword balancing done to this song and it fits very well. The song ends by fading out, which is kind of odd. Perhaps the full song was much longer?

Enta Omri, always a classic. Again, great sound quality. Starts out with a lovely slow section, then jumps into upbeat and fun with a lovely melody and playfully subtle drum beat. Nice variety in instruments and sound. Plenty of variety in possible dance moves.

Ala Jsrel Low Ziyyi sounds like it was recorded in a room with a vaulted ceiling. The sound quality is a little off. I suppose it's still usable, but something about it just doesn't sound right to me. Plus there is this random instrument that sounds like it is synthesized and it doesn't fit in with the classical music feel the rest of the song has. I can't really see ever using this for anything.

Adawar is a very nice song. It's not my style to dance to, but I'm sure it could be more useful for another dancer. It stars out kind of slow and easy, then speeds up quickly at the end for an exhausting finish. The sound quality is good and the music is well varied. It's fun to listen to.

Laz is another great song. Good sound quality, good variety. Very high energy, kind of a gypsy feel to it. a nice little song to have available.

Kirkpinar Çiftetellisi is an amazingly slow and sensual song. Perfect for balancing, candles, veil, floorwork, or just slow and snaky dancing. This song also fades out.

Rakiya's Tabla is another short drum solo similar to Marhaba. This one has better variety and is more usable.

Ana Wehabibi is a kind of playfully mournful song with lots of emotion and good variety. In some parts it almost sounds eerie, like it's sneaking up on you. Great song to have a little fun with your audience, or be a little playfully sassy with.

Arruga la Camisa is interesting, but not very useful. It sounds like some guys with drums goofing off on a street corner. It kinda sounds Brazilian in some parts. This song just doesn't work for me as a whole. Just when I start to like it, it changes and does something I don't like. It might be possible to cut it up and use some parts as little drum solos between songs.

Aini Bet Ref is another great song with variety. It sounds a little bland, but it's still sounds good and is useful.

The Happy Sheik is just odd. It sounds like a zoot suit song. It doesn't even sound like bellydance music. I have no idea why this song is included on this CD.

The last song, Raqset el Banat, is a fun a lively drum solo with great sound quality and variety. This one is a little over three minutes long, for the dancer with a lot of control and even more energy!

Overall this CD has good variety and some very useful music, but a few of the tracks will probably never be used for anything. But that's typical of bellydance CDs, so you take what you can get. :)

Great CD, Variable Music.......2004-05-29

This cd is a just as it says, a guide. It has several different types of music for different kinds of belly dance (sword, tribal, cabaret, etc). I love the order of them too, you could put the CD in and do an entire show to it since it alternates between fast and slow songs. #9 is a beautiful, sensual, slow piece, #4 is a great song too, starts out slow -perfect for floor work - and builds up faster into almost a drum solo. The entire CD is instramental, so if you like vocals, its not for you. Its also fairly traditional and "cabaret" sounding, not very "night clubby" or "pop music". I think everyone could find a few songs they like on it. Good investment.

Classical raqs sharqi music.......2002-09-04

I had heard of the Rough Guide series of anthologies, but until I looked them up, hadn't realized they were so prolific or extensive. The Rough Guide to Bellydance is an eclectic collection of music composed especially for raqs sharqi (also known as Danse Orientale or more colloquially as belly dance).

The CD has fifteen instrumental tracks, any which would be ideal for performances. The music originates in various countries, like Turkey, Egypt, Syria, the United States, Lebanon, and Germany. Songs range from peppy drum solos to ciftetellis, and some have the old-fashioned sound of Oum Kulthum's music. It runs the gamut from folk pieces to classic solo dancer showcases. In the case of Ahmad Fouad Hasan's "Dimashq", the track has the sound of a big Arabic-Andalusian orchestra and appears to have been remastered from decades-old master tapes. None of these pieces are modern-sounding, so should appeal to more traditional dancers. Each of the tracks are excellent, so should appeal to pretty much everyone!

Mahmoud Fadl's "Aament Bellah" is the CD's longest track, weighing in at a hefty twelve minutes. It follows a masmoudi rhythm, and with an accordian, tells an Egyptian story of poverty and pain alleviated by the power of music and dance. By the end, the drums have worked themselves up to a fever pitch.

The next piece, "Enta Omri" by Jalilah and Mokhtar Al Said, is a very emotional song first written for the legendary Oum Kulthum. "Enta Omri" translates to "You are my life", and was written by Abdel Wahab. Both the melody and rhythm beg to be danced to in the Egyptian style.

Mohamed Matar's "Adawar" showcases the Lebanese buzuq and zill-playing. With its rather staccato phrasing, I think it would be a very fun piece for performance.

Omar Faruk Tekbilek follows the karsilama rhythm with "Laz". It's a time signature foreign to western listener's ears, but a very common one in Turkey and Romany.

Kemani Cemal Cinarli has another Turkish rhythm western ears may not be familiar with: a slow, heavy ciftetelli. It is an 8-beat rhythm, and is closely related to the Egyptian wahda kabira rhythm. The melody, however, is the star of this piece. The violin draws the dancer up, up, up, extending through the ribs, undulating through the abdomen, and sliding out through outstretched arms.

Armando El Mafufo's "Arruga La Camisa" is the most fun piece on the CD. It's also the only track with voice, although the voice is used more like a punctuation than for singing. It, maybe more than any other song on this CD, makes me want to work out a dance routine. The changes in the drum solos are often enough that dance couldn't really be ad libbed. No, this challenging piece requires a strong familiarization.