#4437, Music for Islamic Voices and Western Instruments
Listen to Islamic and Arabic singing with western instruments in music from Norwegian composer Jon Balke and Moroccan singer Amina Alaoui, Anglo-Egyptian singer Natacha Atlas, and the late Sir John Tavener.
Hear music by Norwegian composer-keyboardist Jon Balke from the Siwan project, and the collaborative record featuring Moroccan singer Amina Alaoui with the early music group Barokk Solistene. The word siwan means ‘equilibrium’ or ‘balance,’ which describes so well the cross-cultural and cross time period music: European Baroque, Gharnati music (classical music from the Al-Andalus period) and improvisation. Listen to a song ‘Thulathiyat,’ whose text was written by the Sufi mystic Husayn Mansour Al Hallaj (857-922 CE), and whose recording from the Siwan project balances composition and improvisation.
There’s also music from the late British composer Sir John Tavener. Tavener was a convert of the Russian Orthodox branch of Christianity, who was drawn to other mystical traditions, including the mystical Sufi branch of Islam. Listen to his work, ”Mahámátar,” an invocation to the Great Mother Mahámátar in Sanskrit, featuring the Sufi singer Abi Sampa, cellist Steven Isserlis, the Trinity Boys Choir, tubular bells, and the Philharmonia Orhestra. Then, hear music from the Fez festival in Morocco, from a recording of the Islamic call to prayer which was then accompanied by the Radio & TV Symphony Orchestra of Bosnia/Herzegovina. Also, listen to music by Anglo-Egyptian singer Natacha Atlas, including her “Adam’s Lullaby,” a collaboration with English composer Jocelyn Pook and the Prague Symphony Orchestra, and more. - Caryn Havlik
Program #4437, Music for Islamic Voices and Western Instruments (First Aired 12/03/2020)
ARTIST: Radio & TV Symphony Orchestra of Bosnia/Herzegovina
WORK: Call to Prayer [1:30]
RECORDING: B’ismillah: Music from the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music, Vol. 1
SOURCE: Sounds True
INFO: Out of print. Try auction sites.
ARTIST: Steven Isserlis, cello; Abi Sampa (Sufi singer), Trinity Boys Choir, Philharmonia Orhestra
WORK: Sir John Tavener: Mahámátar [15:49]
RECORDING: Sir John Tavener: No Longer Mourn For Me
SOURCE: Hyperion Records CDA68246
INFO: hyperion-records.co.uk
ARTIST: Radio & TV Symphony Orchestra of Bosnia/Herzegovina
WORK: Call to Prayer [8:14]
RECORDING: B’ismillah: Music from the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music, Vol. 1
SOURCE: Sounds True
INFO: Out of print. Try auction sites.
ARTIST: Jon Balke and Amina Alaoui, Bjarte Eike and Barokke Solistene
WORK: Thulathiyat [10:04]
RECORDING: SIWAN
SOURCE: ECM 2042
INFO: www.ecmrecords.com
ARTIST: Natacha Atlas
WORK: Batkallim [5:58]
RECORDING: Mounqaliba
SOURCE: Six Degrees 657036 1170
INFO: sixdegreesrecords.com
ARTIST: Natacha Atlas
WORK: Adam's Lullaby [5:57]
RECORDING: Something Dangerous
SOURCE: Mantra #1035 / Beggars Banquet
INFO: natachaatlasofficial.com
