CD Reviews By Aleta Quinn
The primary function of these reviews is to describe what kind of music to
expect from the cd's described. I have three goals:
- To give people who might be interested in Middle Eastern music an idea
what they are buying
- To help dancers determine if the cd is appropriate for Raks Sharki dance
- To help drummers find cd's with quality examples of Middle Eastern
drumming
Therefore, in each review I tend to focus on the genre, instrumentation,
feeling, and rhythms. My assessment of the actual quality of each cd is, of
course, a matter of taste. I have assigned three ratings to each cd:
- Overall. Whether I would recommend the album, and how highly.
- Danceability. Whether I consider the music usable for Raks Sharki.
- Drum use. Whether a percussionist studying Middle Eastern drumming
would find the cd useful.
Where to buy Middle Eastern and other international cd's
Online, via: www.maqam.com www.traditionalcrossroads.com www.turkishmusic.com www.amazon.com
At stores such as cd depot, Borders, and Barnes & Noble you can find great compilations, but a tremendous amount of junk too
At festivals and shows, such as rakkasah and some local Raks Sharki haflas featuring vendors
At some museums, such as the Smithsonian's Freer and Sackler Galleries, African Art Museum, and the National Museum of
Natural History. And isn't it nice to support these museums?
If you travel, don't hold back: buy all the cd's you can fit in your suitcase, up to the maximum allowable number of suitcases.
Cd's are much cheaper at the source. There is one cd store in the Khan El Khalili and several other stores in downtown Cairo;
there are many book/cd stores along Galip Dede Caddesi in Istanbul, but if you can find the wholesalers (near the Cumbus
storefront), buy everything in sight. I came back from Cairo with nothing but the clothes on my back plus two bags and one
doumbek stuffed full of loot.
