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• CD Title: Music from the Arabian Gulf
• Artist(s): Humaid Al Jasmi, Saif, Walid Ibrahim, Saeed Al Kaabi, Faraj Ghanim
• CD Code: EUCD2023
• Tracks: 10
• Playing Time: 52:02 min
• Booklet Info in: English, German, Spanish, French
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Some of the most famous singers of the Arabian Gulf area present traditional songs with modern arrangements. Highly syncopated, relentless rhythms and insistent drumbeats follow the driving force of the voices.
The music on this album is typical for the United Arab Emirates, although most styles and songs are also well known and well loved in Saudi Arabia and the other neighbouring States. The United Arab Emirates or UAE comprise seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Qaiwain.
Traditional Music of the Emirates
The music of the Gulf area is a celebration of life and joy. Music and dance are closely related and there are specific dances which require specific instruments. Many of the songs and dances have been handed down from generation to generation and have survived to present time.
At almost every celebration one can find groups of folk singers, dancers and musicians who perform traditional music. Big celebrations, like a sheik's wedding for example, will bring together several troupes of musicians and dancers.
The most common instruments these musicians use are drums, which vary in size, from the big drum al-ras to smaller takhamir drums, tambourines and finger cymbals. The drums are played with hands or sticks. Some groups also use the mizmar, an oboe-like double-reed instrument with a high pitched nasal sound. The singing style is characterized by call and response singing, whereby the chorus normally is very repetitive and the relentless, almost hypnotic rhythm is ever present.
The melodic lines in general are very repetitive and rhythmic shifts within the melodies are traditionally uncommon. The voice normally predominates over the syncopated rhythm. With the growing Western influence, many of these traditional songs have been modernized with Western instruments and electronics and more modern songs have more frequent shifts in rhythm. However the modernized songs never lose the insistent drumbeat and the highly syncopated rhythm and the driving force of the voices.
1. Saeed Al Kaabi: Mabd'a We Nihayah / Beginning And End (Saeed Al Kaabi) - 5:27
2. Saif: Madri / He Doesn't Know (Saif Al Kaabi) - 3:50
3. Humaid Al Jasmi: Jaasi / Tough (Ahmed Al Jasim) - 5:38
4. Salim Khalfan Al Kaabi: Ya Hajri / You Left Me (Salim Khalfan Al Kaabi) - 3:44
5. Khalid Mohd: Naseem El Sabaya / Ladies Refreshing (Saeed Al Kaabi) - 6:08
6. Walid Ibrahim: Min Eyooni / From My Eyes (Walid Ibrahim) - 6:17
7. Saif: La Tebayen / Don't Show (Saif Al Kaabi) - 4:33
8. Faraj Ghanim: Azamth / Insisted (Emad Al-Rumaithan) - 6:16
9. Firqath Dubap El Harbiyah: Gharshoob / Nice Neck (Saeed Al Kaabi) - 4:22
10. Humaid Al Jasmi: Kifayah / Enough (Yones Al Sayegh) - 5:47
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