Middle Eastern music from the so-called "cradle of civilization" goes back some 5000 years. Today it spans a vast region stretching from Morocco to Iran—including the 22 Arab countries of the Middle East and North Africa, Persian music from Iran, Hebrew music from Israel, pre-Islamic music from Assyria, music from Turkey, Armenia, and Cyprus, plus the nomadic Berbers of North Africa, Coptic Christians of Egypt, and the great Andalusian music of Muslim Spain. It's a rich mix with a colorful history.
Common features are a system of melodic 'modes' called maqam based on quarter tones (with up to 24 notes to the octave), sinuous melodic ornamentation, and ecstatic, sophisticated rhythms. According to 11th century Persian philosopher and theologian AL-GHAZAL, "Ecstasy means the state that comes from listening to music."
On this transmission of Hearts of Space, the microtonal melodies and hypnotic percussion of Middle Eastern music, on a program called ECSTATIC RHYTHMS.
Music is by MERCAN DEDE, DEAD CAN DANCE, LOGA RAMIN TORKIAN & AZAM ALI, WAHID, KRONOS QUARTET & MAHSA VAHDAT, MICHEL BANABILA, and ANOUAR BRAHEM.
[ view program page ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]
Comments