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CD Review
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Xaun-music.com, CD Review >>
The Songs of Sheikh Sayyed Darweesh: 'Soul of a People'
Hicham Chami, founder of the Chicago Classical Oriental Ensemble, selected Egyptian composer Sheikh Sayyed Darweesh as the focus of a new CD project. Percussionist Karim Nagi explains Darweesh's enduring appeal: “His songs reflect the period of the independence movement in Egyptian history and truly represent the essence of Egyptian identity…they captured the mood of a nation in transition and appealed to the masses of Egypt as well as the intelligentsia. The songs spoke of their daily lives, concerns, needs, and paranoias. With shocking honesty, he grabbed everyone’s attention.”
Working with composer/arranger Kareem Roustom, songs were chosen from the extensive Darweesh repertoire, ranging from themes of love to nationalism. Dalia Alshafi transcribed the lyrics, referring to the "Firqat al-Musiqah al-`Arrabiyyah" songs and reconciling them with the original lyrics of Darweesh's recordings in his own voice. Translations for the CD booklet were prepared by Dr. Iman Roushdy Hammady and Nabeel Ebeid. Fifteen musicians from the U.S., Canada, and the Near East converged on Chicago to record “The Songs of Sheikh Sayyed Darweesh: Soul of a People,” which will fill a unique niche in the Arabic music market and provide a lasting tribute to this influential composer.
The Chicago Classical Oriental Ensemble consists of professional musicians from several countries in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. The ensemble performs traditional instrumental and vocal music from the Arabic, Turkish, Armenian, and Sephardic repertoires.
The CCOE presented its debut performance in 2003 at the Oriental Institute in Chicago, for the opening of the Edgar and Deborah Jannotta Mesopotamian Gallery. The ensemble performed with the Anda-El East West Orchestra during a nationwide tour showcasing Andalusian music in 2004. The CCOE’s 2005 tour, including performances at the United Nations and Kennedy Center as well as museums and cultural centers across the country, highlighted contemporary compositions by international artists. The CCOE's seven-city nationwide tour in 2006 featured "The Songs of Sheikh Sayyed Darweesh: Soul of a People."
Led by Hicham Chami, a Moroccan-born qanun performer based in Chicago, the CCOE represents a unique experience in the world of classical Oriental music in the U.S. 04/01/06 >> go there
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