This Month's Choice Music
What’s in The Dance CD Case This Month?
March 2007
Sahara Groove— Hossam Ramzy & Cheikha Rimitti EUCD 1732 Flamenco Arabra Vol 1 - Hossam Ramzy Raks Sharki - Makhatar Al Said PIR 41-2Roman Dugunu Sulukule Nights
Belly Dance Instrumentals EasyDisc 12136-9018-2
Bellydance Superstars Vol 1
October 2005
Cairo By Night Composed and Conducted by Ali Srour - available from dance vendors
Originally released around the 1980's, the CD is a classic for the Oriental Dance collection. There are four pieces; Rakset Nelli a complete show, Rakset Mona a fun maqsoum, Rakset Dounia with a wonderful accordian solo going into a fast maqsoum and Rakset Sohr a masmoudi with organ taxim going into a beledi.
Asena - Ibrahim Tatlis - www.tatlis.com.trReleased in 2001, this Turkish CD is filled with interesting rhythms and beautiful compositions for Oriental Dance. From the opening song, "Warda," which is on the first BellyDance Superstars CD, to the last song, " Ifade" dancers from all levels will find something to inspire their dance.
Crossing the Bridge - Film Soundtrack - CD 5050467-8740-2-2The film, Crossing the Bridge, is a documentary of a German musician’s tour through Turkey’s diverse and rich music scene. There’s jazz, rock, folk guitar, new age, rap music (really amazingly sung without electronic vocal help by Ceza!), old and new Turkish wedding bands (including the fabulous Rom clarinetist Selim Sesler), a beautiful Kurdish singer Aynur Do
gan and the beloved singer Sezen Aksu. I saw the film in Switzerland with German subtitles and I do hope that it comes to America so I can catch all of what is being said by these wonderful musicians. The film is a lovely tour through the Turkish music world with wonderful insights into the musicians and the music they play. Dogu - Karde Turkular - Kalan Muzic - www.Kalan.comDo
gu is a wonderful CD that I have been using for warm ups and movement exploration for the past six months. I do not tire of the dramatic renditions of songs sung in Armenian, Kurdish and Turkish by this group of Turkish musicians who feel strongly about the different languages and peoples who live in Turkey. The beauty and depth of the songs take you strongly into yourself and is wonderful for working meditative dance movements.July 2004
Gypsies of Turkey -Ahmet Kusgoz ve Arkadaslari - ARC Music EUCD 1635I found this CD at the World Music Institute store at 49 West 27th Street, NYC. The music is pure Turkish Rom with beautiful clarinet and violin taxims by Ahmet Kusgoz and Yener Elmas. The depth with which these players express their musical emotions does more than move you; it takes you along on their journey. It’s hard for me to pick favorites on this particular CD - each track has it’s own exciting expression. Whether you are looking for performance music or music to stretch and expand your technique, I count this CD as a must for any serious student.
Available in major music outlets but please support The World Music Institute without whom the artistry of world class master musicians would be lost. Their good works by giving voice in America to music and dance from around the world deserves the dollar or two more that you would normally spend on music at the large chains.
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