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Sample Track 1:
"Ya Bahgat er-Roh" from The Songs of Sayyed Darweesh: Soul of a People (Xauen Music)
Sample Track 2:
"Bint el-Youm" from The Songs of Sayyed Darweesh: Soul of a People (Xauen Music)
Buy Recording:
The Songs of Sayyed Darweesh: Soul of a People (Xauen Music)
Layer 2
Cd Review

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World Music Central, Cd Review >>

Sounding much more like Cairo than their namesake city, the Chicago Classical Oriental Ensemble (CCOE), celebrate the songs of Egypt's Sheikh Sayyed Darweesh, who died in 1923 at age 31. Darweesh did not achieve international fame or great fortune in his short career. Rather, his compositions captured the feel of an era when the classical and Koranic traditions of Egyptian music were beginning to pave the way toward popular songs with broad appeal. Themes of modernization, progressive thinking and multicultural identity were addressed with an honesty that made Darweesh a "Soul of the People" indeed.

CCOE recreate the feel of early 20th century Egyptian music via the use of qanun (zither), oud (lute), nay (flute), Arabic percussion, strings and voices both male and female. Meditations on earthly and divine love characterize many of the songs, along with the growing sense of national pride in Egypt at the time. But all that's covered in the lyric translations the liner notes provide. Your first concern should be to immerse yourself in listening to these beautiful vintage-styled sounds, the likes of which inspired legendary artists from Um Kalthum to Youssou N'Dour. Available from www.xauen-music.com.

 04/17/06
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