Tracklist:

A1. Raksat Ala Al Oud (Dance To The Oud Sound) 5:24
A2. Rampi-Rampi 4:33
A3. Shish-Kabob 3:46
A4. Monaagh (Arabian Serenade) 3:46
A5. Haso-Eliniko (Greek Hasapiko) 3:11
A6. Banat Iskandaria (The Girl Of Alexandria) 3:48
B1. Raksat Al Souk (The Market Dance) 4:13
B2. Maharayias (The Maharajah) 4:48
B3. Baklava 3:45
B4. Opa 3:42
B5. Raksat Al Neal (Dance Of The Nile) 4:12
B6. Mustafa 3:49

Media Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+)
Sleeve Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+)

Cat # : MFS 771

Barcode :

Folk World & Country / 

Notes:

This recording is intended to give the listener the basic rhythms of belly dancing. It incorporates a variety of instrumental melodies originating in Egypt, Greece and the Near East. The uncomplicated rhythms and melodies are pleasant to the Western ear. Belly dancers from beginners to advanced will find this album ideal to complement their dancing.

The musicians in the ensemble are professionals who have accompanied well known belly dancers in Egypt and the Middle East. Among the musical instruments heard on this recording, one of the most common to Middle East music, is the Oud, a deep-bowled short necked string instrument resembling a large mandolin which is plucked by an eagle feather. The Oud has 11 strings and can produce quarter tones common to Arabic music. Then there is the Bouzoukee, a long delicate-necked mandolin-like instrument, played with a plectrum on metal strings; the bouzoukee is popularly heard at Greek dances and night clubs all over the world. Another instrument used is the Def, a kin of the tambourine. There are three drums on this recording: the Tabla, a small pottery-made, hourglass-shaped drum with one end open and a very thin fish skin head; the Derbecki, a small ornate brass drum like the tabla with goat skin drum head; the Dumbeg, a larger and deeper sounding drum, also hourglass-shaped. Various sounds from high pitches to deeper tones are brought out by the fingers of the drummers on these three drums. The clarinet, flute and violin enrich the melodies with their articulate Eastern Flavor. 

The Musicians
Salah Abdel Fattah: Oud and Violin
Adel Sokkary: Tabla and Def
Mark Macres: Bouzoukee
Kico Rangel: Clarinet and Flute
Jim Roth: Accordion
Chris Kalogerson: Derbecki and Dumbeg
Leader of the Ensemble Sharqi: Chris Kalogerson