Various Artists - Upper & Lower Egypt / Various - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

The 1982 album Rabab Egyptian Singing and Epic Songs highlights the rababa, a two-stringed spike fiddle made from a coconut shell that is used to accompany the lead singers (rais) of vocal ensembles and epic poets (shaer). Nadi Osman, one of the performers featured on the album, assumes both roles here. The other featured artist, Hamdi Metkal Kanawi, learned to play the rababa from his father, a master musician. He accompanies his mother in a maoual, or narrative melody, and shares an instrumental work intended to accompany a dance that represents a sword duel. Liner notes include song lyrics in both Arabic and English. Album Tracks 1. Ya Hamam (O Pigeon) 2. Ya Habibi, Ya Asal,? (O Honey Hasting Love) 3. Ya Abu Lassa Wa Taquiya (O You with the Turban and the Taquiya) 4. Maoual 5. Abu Zeid El Hilali (My First Word Is to Thank God) 6. Hamdi Matkal Kenawi

When this recording was made, the Bedouin of Southern Sinai were striving to maintain their semi-nomadic ways of life in a changing world. This selection provides a valuable record of and insight into their repertory of archaic poetry, songs and dances, as well as more popular tunes. Album Tracks 1. Hudjaini - Caravan Song 2. Water Drawing Song 3. ?Afla Bedouin Evening Coffee Grinding, Da?Ya Dance, Poem's Declamation 4. Flute Solo 5. Makr?Na 6. Three Simsimiyya Tunes 7. A Fisherman's Song 8. A Yamania Song 9. A Yamania Song 10. Ya Khazar?Ne - Love Song 11. Al? Dal '?Na 12. A Love Song 13. The Rich and the Poor 14. Yamania Complaint - Epic Song 15. A Fisherman's Dance

A selection of powerful pieces from the historical Amha Records catalogue Ayaléw Mèsfin, Gétatchèw Kassa and Sèyfou Yohannes, and other artists as yet unreleased or hardly known in the West. Bonus tracks two pieces by the young Mulatu Astatqé, recorded in the early 60s and two pieces by The Ashantis, a Kenyan band based in Addis Abeba, which was very influent in the early 70s.' Album Tracks 1. M Tech D RSH [When Am I Going to Reach There?] 2. Ham T Gnaw 3. L N Antchi Bitcha N SH [You Are the Only One for Me] 4. Men w B G R Begn [I Could Have Done Without It] 5. B y Les Nab Tesh 6. En y w D Dkwat 7. S w Endayhon y LL M 8. Ter Djew N B R 9. Qondjo Ledj Nat 10. Ber Anbar S B R Lewo [He Consummated the Marriage] 11. L B N Sheweshew [My Panicked Heart] 12. Yag R DJ Gna 13. Y K Rmo S w [A Man of Experience and Wisdom] 14. Mariy Marw L la 15. TCH R Qa [O Moon] 16. H D TCH Gara Zura 17. Assiyo B LL Ma 18. N FSH N SH 19. Come on and Do It 20. I Wanna Do My Thing