EGYPT – Taqasim and Layali - Cairo Tradition – Unesco Musical Sources – GREM - DSM 010

EGYPT – ÉGYPTE

Taqasim and Layali - Cairo Tradition – Unesco Musical Sources – GREM - DSM 010, 1984 reissue of a 1971 release, recorded by Jacques Cloarec in Cairo (LP)

This classic 1971 album from the essential UNESCO Musical Sources series showcases the art of taqâsîm melodic improvisation and layâlî vocal improvisation. It features prominent Egyptian musicians from the The Takht Ensemble of Cairo performing here in various formats: Ibrahim El-Haggar (1922-2000) on vocals (A1, A3), Sami Nussair on the qanun zither (A1, A3, B2), Gomâa Muhammad Ali (1924-1975) on the oud lute (A3, B1), Wahbi Labib on the ney flute (A2, A3) and Muhammad El-Arabi on the darbuka goblet drum and req tambourine (A2, A3, B2, B3).

Similar to Indian ragas, Arabic maqams are melodic systems that provide a framework for improvisations intended to evoke specific moods and emotions. The various forms of Egyptian maqam are closely related to Turkish makam, Azeri mugam, and Persian dastgah. These complex musical forms are traditionally passed down orally from teacher to student.

Cet album classique de 1971, issu de la série incontournable UNESCO Musical Sources, présente l'art de l'improvisation mélodique taqâsîm et de l'improvisation vocale layâlî. Il met en avant les éminents musiciens de l'ensemble Takht du Caire, qui jouent ici sous différents formats musicaux: Ibrahim El-Haggar (1922-2000) au chant (A1, A3), Sami Nussair au cithare qanûn (A1, A3, B2), Gomâa Muhammad Ali (1924-1975) au luth oud (A3, B1), Wahbi Labib à la flûte ney (A2, A3) et Muhammad El-Arabi au tambour darbouka et au tambourin req (A2, A3, B2, B3).

 

Semblables aux ragas indiens, les maqams arabes sont des systèmes mélodiques qui fournissent un cadre pour des improvisations destinées à évoquer des ambiances et des émotions spécifiques. Les différentes formes de maqam égyptien sont étroitement liées au makam turc, au mugam azéri et au dastgah perse. Ces formes musicales complexes sont traditionnellement transmises oralement, de maître à élève.

A1 – Layâlî and Mawwâl (Maqâm Bayâtî)

Qanun by Sami Nussair & vocals by Ibrahim El-Haggar;

 

A2 – Taqsîm Bayâtî

Ney flute by Wahbi Labib & req tambourine by Muhammad El-Arabi;

 

A3 – Samâ'î El-'Aryan

The Takht Ensemble of Cairo with vocals by Ibrahim El-Haggar, ud lute by Gomâa Muhammad Ali, qanun zither by Sami Nussair, ney flute by Wahbi Labib and req & darbuka by Muhammad El-Arabi;

 

B1 – Taqsîm Bayâtî

Ud lute by Gomâa Muhammad Ali; 

 

B2 – Taqsîm Farah-Faza

Qanun by Sami Nussair & req tambourine by Muhammad El-Arabi; 

 

B3 – Darbuka solo

Darbuka goblet drum by Muhammad El-Arabi.

Download:

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MP3

My other Egyptian and Arabian, Turkish, Azeri, and Yemeni maqam posts:

Egypt – Music of the Arabian Orient & North Africa – Supraphon here

Arabian Music – Maqam – UNESCO Musical Sources here
Iraq – Music of the Arabian Orient & North Africa – Supraphon here
Music of Iraq – Seven seas GXC-5013 here
Jordan, Lebanon & Syria – Music of the Arabian Orient & North Africa – Supraphon here

Nuit Précieuse au Serail – ARION 30 U 097 here

Azerbaijan – A Musical Anthology of the Orient – BM 30 SL 2024 here

Jamil Ghanim – Luth au Yemen – Ud classique – Arabesques 6 here

Bahrain & U.A.E. – Pêcheurs de Perles et Musiciens du Golfe Persique

OCORA 42 here

Listen to the excellent 'Taqsim-e Nahavand' virtuoso oud solo by Riad el-Sunbati (1906–1981). This renowned Egyptian musician was highly influential during the 'Golden Age' of Egyptian music, composing 

many songs for legendary artists such as Umm Kulthum (1904–1975) 

and Abdel Halim Hafez (1929–1977):

Ibn Qalawun (1285–1341) and his courtly entourage. He ruled Egypt 

as the ninth Mamluk Sultan of the Bahri dynasty for over 40 years; 

frontispiece from a 1334 manuscript of the Maqamat of al-Hariri 

(The Assemblies of al-Hariri):

Wikimedia Commons

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