Recorded at the 1997 and 1998 Fes Festivals of World Sacred Music in Fes, Morrocco, Hamdulillah (an Arabic word meaning "Praise be to Allah") captures the unique ancient musics of Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Christians, and Hindustanis. Performed by renowned musicians and vocalists, primarily from the Middle East and North Africa, this extraordinary two-CD set radiates spiritual praise and bristles with musical virtuosity. Javanese gamelan, Jewish Sephardic, a bit of Christian, and various branches of Sufi devotional music--even the obsure muqam from Azerbaijan--are spotlighted.
The velvety voice of Amina Alaoui singing Spanish-rooted Andalusian Gharnati music greets the listener before they are guided over the craggy peaks of vigorous ensemble pieces (Taqtouqa Al Jabalyya and Begonia Olavide) and into the valleys of meditative vocal offerings (Alin Qassimov and Albert Bouhadanna), before resting at the stream of lovely, tinkling gamelan music. Singer Monajat Yulcheva's track particularly stands out for her pure tones and vocal mastery: she raises song from the well of her throat and sends it soaring to the desert sky. And if Yulcheva's expert fluttering doesn't do it for you, the 39-minute piece from the Whirling Dervishes of Konya will. Beginning with sparsely accompanied vocals, this 26-man ensemble of musicians, singers, and dancers take their time in building from slow, warm chant to a portentous, wavering march before finally sparking into a throbbing ecstastic fire. Hamdulillah (in addition to being the bargain-priced CD of the year) may be 1998's most unique recording yet. --Karen Karleski
Hamdulillah: Fes Festival Of World Sacred Music, Vol. II,Various Artists,Sounds True Direct,Ceremonial,Int'l & World Music,Middle East,Pan-Global,Pop,Traditional,Traditional Middle Eastern Folk,World Beat Collections,World Music
Average customer rating: 
|
Hamdulillah: Fes Festival Of World Sacred Music, Vol. II
Various Artists Manufacturer: Sounds True Direct ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD  Traditional Folk
| Folk
| Styles
| Music
General
| International
| Styles
| Music
General
| Middle East
| International
| Styles
| Music
General
| Compilations
| International
| Styles
| Music
General
| New Age
| Styles
| Music
Meditation
| New Age
| Styles
| Music
General
| International
| Indie Music
| Stores
| Music
General
| New Age
| Indie Music
| Stores
| Music
International
| Imports
| Stores
| Music
New Age
| Imports
| Stores
| Music
Similar Items:
ASIN: B00000DC6U Release Date: 1998-10-27 |
Tracks:
- Arab-Andalusian Music Of The Gharnati Tradition - Ahmed Piro Ensemble/Amina Alaoui
- Music From Morocco's Rif Mountains - Taqtouqa Al Jabaliyya
- Spiritual Music Of Hindustan - Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar
- Music And Songs From Medieval Andalusia - Begonia Olavide/Mudejar Ensemble
- Spiritual Union In Song - Children Of Abraham
- Chants And Music Of Sufi Inspiration - Alim Qassimov
- Jewish Sephardic Songs - Francoise Atlan
- The Jewish Tradition Of The Moroccan Piyyout - Albert Bouhadanna/Arab-Andalusian Orchestra Of Mohamed Briouel
- Malhoun Of Fes - Ensemble Sidi Thami Mdaghri/Mohamed Soussi
Tracks:
- Sufi Songs Of Central Asia - Monajat Yulcheva
- Maqam Iraqi On Mystical Texts And Poetry - Hussayn Al Azami/Ensemble Al Kinki
- Medieval Muslim And Moorish Andalusian Songs - El Suspiro Del Moro
- Javanese Gamelan Music - Wacana Budaya Gamelan
- Spiritual Songs From Iran - Sharam Nazeri/Dastan Ensemble
- The Whirling Dervishes Of Konya - Sufi Sama
Amazon.com
Recorded at the 1997 and 1998 Fes Festivals of World Sacred Music in Fes, Morrocco, Hamdulillah (an Arabic word meaning "Praise be to Allah") captures the unique ancient musics of Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Christians, and Hindustanis. Performed by renowned musicians and vocalists, primarily from the Middle East and North Africa, this extraordinary two-CD set radiates spiritual praise and bristles with musical virtuosity. Javanese gamelan, Jewish Sephardic, a bit of Christian, and various branches of Sufi devotional music--even the obsure muqam from Azerbaijan--are spotlighted.The velvety voice of Amina Alaoui singing Spanish-rooted Andalusian Gharnati music greets the listener before they are guided over the craggy peaks of vigorous ensemble pieces (Taqtouqa Al Jabalyya and Begonia Olavide) and into the valleys of meditative vocal offerings (Alin Qassimov and Albert Bouhadanna), before resting at the stream of lovely, tinkling gamelan music. Singer Monajat Yulcheva's track particularly stands out for her pure tones and vocal mastery: she raises song from the well of her throat and sends it soaring to the desert sky. And if Yulcheva's expert fluttering doesn't do it for you, the 39-minute piece from the Whirling Dervishes of Konya will. Beginning with sparsely accompanied vocals, this 26-man ensemble of musicians, singers, and dancers take their time in building from slow, warm chant to a portentous, wavering march before finally sparking into a throbbing ecstastic fire. Hamdulillah (in addition to being the bargain-priced CD of the year) may be 1998's most unique recording yet. --Karen Karleski
Customer Reviews:
Excellent variety.......1999-01-05
The world-music CD of the year........1998-11-29
World Music:
- Hedningarna
- Heitor Villa-Lobos: Obra Completa Para Violao Solo [Import]
- I Love Scotland [Import]
- In Aquascape [Import]
- Induku Zethu
- Kaleta Jaa
- Ko Sira
- L'alphabet Du Plaisir [Import]
- L' Efant du Pays [Enhanced] [Import]
- La Vie Marron
World Music
Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique; Roman Carnival Overture; Marche hongroise
Bonkers 13: Hardcore Horror Show [Import]
Alterno-Daze: Survival of the Fittest - '80s
Ao Vivo No Circo [Import] [Live]
Britten: The Canticles; Purcell: Three Divine Hymns
Basie Land [Import] [Original recording remastered]