|
Wholenote Magazine “This album is the sequel to an album of the same name, without the volume number, since at the time no one had forecast the incredible audience response that buoyed The Traditional Arabic Music Ensemble to grace us with more of the same. The first album came out in the spring of 2008, and was notably nominated for the 2009 Juno Award for World Music Album of the Year. This time George Sawa, Toronto’s own Egyptian music expert has put together, along with his colleagues, Suzanne Meyers Sawa and Michel Merhej Baklouk, what I feel to be perhaps a stronger offering than the first. If not stronger, then certainly more mature. This is evident right off the top with the first cut, Raqset Sayyed Mohammad stretching over the ten-minute mark and offering a rich and varied array of musical textures within a unified whole. I literally kept playing this album over and over: the music doesn’t get tired, it doesn’t get stale. It doesn’t even have what some might call “the same sound,” referring to an idiomatic Arabic ‘world music sound.’ The energy is fresh and the deep resonance of the percussion drives the listener to yearn for more. If there was an over-riding flavour of this group’s creative output, it would be authenticity. Sawa has gone to great lengths to virtually resurrect an exact replica of a period instrument that is most likely unique in the world. Two thumbs up! Do I hear a trilogy in the offing?” (Heidi McKenzie, The Wholenote Magazine, October 2009) What are people saying about the album The Art of the Early Egyptian Qanun Vol 2 “Once again a masterpiece.” (Nada el-Masriya, Toronto, ON, Canada). “Dr. Sawa’s music takes me back in time to when recordings were sensible. I love listening to the layers of melodies and dancing the subtleties of this beautiful masterpiece. I can't wait to hear the next one!” (Bozenka, Bellydance Superstar, Miami, Florida) “I have heard both volumes of Dr. George Sawa’s ‘The Art of the Early Egyptian Qanun’ and just love them. I really love his version of Lamma Bada on Vol 2 and Raqset el-Hawanem on Vol 1. Very cool that volume 2 features Michel Merhej Baklouk from New York on Riqq & Darabukka. Now in his 80s he has played for the great stars such as Samia Gamal & Tahia Cariocca. Thanks to Dr. Sawa we have this master of percussion on a well produced album. All pieces are public domain!” (Maha, Toronto, ON, Canada, www.mahabellydance.com). “Those CD's are such a treat, soooo beautiful!! A definite MUST for EVERY bellydancer and Middle Eastern Music-Qanun lover everywhere!!!!” (Thania Zahira, Toronto, ON, Canada, www.zahiradance.net). “I have both CDs, they are hauntingly beautiful. I remember well Dr. Sawa’s lecture at the IBDCC in 2007 and how poignantly he expressed his love of the qanun. He is a great, great master and so very kind and gracious as well. We are very fortunate that he has chosen to live and work here in Ontario, Canada!” (Khalida, Kingston, ON, Canada). Reviews from Historians and Performers “You give back to traditional Arab and Ottoman music its dignity and the intimacy it needs and deserves in contrast to the Casino-style and purely virtuosic recordings of our day. How vivid the music becomes in your interpretation of the old repertoire! It is a landmark in historical recording! I also like the text of the booklet for it is limited to precise information. The reader understands that not only the hand of the player was involved but also the head of a scholar. I very much hope you can continue your recordings of the traditional qanun repertory for the benefit of the next generation.” (Dr. Eckhard Neubauer, Institute for the History of Arabic and Islamic Sciences, J. W. Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany). “O Great Master! A great performance of wonderful and carefully selected compositions. I got back to the age I was supposed to be in: an early 20th century Egyptian prince listening to a great musical repertoire. You cannot imagine what you are giving to our Arab musical heritage. You're documenting pieces which were not known to the majority of the musicologists in Egypt or the Levant. May God give you the power to give us more and more albums of the same rich musical heritage to tell people who dislike traditional Arabic music that we've a rich heritage. It is too bad such superficial people do not understand its beauty. I wish you the best of luck and success.” (Mohammed S. M. Antar, virtuoso nay player, Cairo, Egypt). |
Wholenote Magazine "This is a thoroughly lovely compilation/tribute album to the qanun, featuring music that spans over two centuries dating back to the Ottoman court, and including Egyptian Sufi sacred dances as well as early 20th-century Egyptian dances. Local Arab music veteran and singular authority, George Sawa performs on a restored period psaltery dating back to the late 1800’s. He is deftly accompanied by Raymond Sarweh and Suzanne Meyers Sawa. They complete the soundscape with a consortium of percussive instruments made of animals skins, wood, clay and brass. The qanun has an unusually impressive range, spanning three and a half octaves. The last track of the album, Khamsa Sa’idi is a set of five traditional Upper Egyptian songs and dances. They showcase the versatility of the instrument while at times allowing the listener to reflect with the punctuated jingle-jangle of tambourines centre stage. Track three, Tribute to Mohammed Ali Street Composers, includes a spell-binding mélange of Sawa’s own improvisation and adaptations of anonymous traditional tunes. My favourites are tracks 4, 6, and 8. The pieces harken to 17th-century instrumental preludes. Their neatly structured sequences recall the intricate patterns and mathematical geometry of a mandala. You can hear the contrast to the later works in their measured pace, and the melodies seem to confine themselves to the soothing lower registers. All of these pieces literally made me want to get up and dance – in fact, I did dance, and I hope you will too!” (Heidi McKenzie, Wholenote, Toronto, June 1-Jul. 7, 2008). What are people saying about the album The Art of the Early Egyptian Qanun Vol 1 “I heard your CD, it’s out of this world. I loved it and so the entire family. I'm so proud of my life long friend.” (Mahmoud Kabil, Superstar Egyptian Actor). “Today I received your CD and couldn’t wait till I started running it. I ask you a question: ‘Why didn’t you produce this CD a long time ago.’ We are in a real need of such recordings, of such way of playing. You probably know what our Arabic music has been up to. Your performance is amazing, May God give you a long life to give us more. I really remember unforgettable ‘Aqqad, father and son, and ‘Abdel-Hamid el-Addabi and those who were playing qanun like that, though your style has a touch of George. It is excellent and I am waiting for more of yours.” (Mohammed S. M. Antar, virtuoso nay player, Cairo, Egypt) “This is music with a masterful touch, a variety of spices, artfully made. The ancient Qanun alive in our times.” (Raffi Cavoukian, singer author, founder of Child Honouring). “This is a fabulous new CD of Egyptian dance music, the most recent music out of Egypt performed by great musicians.” (CDBaby.com). “It is wonderful. I look forward to seeing you in person to shake the golden hands that made this CD.” “I listen to this CD all day. It is more than excellent and takes me back to the old days” “The music on this CD brings me to a different level, calms my mind and soul, and creates wide free space inside me for new ideas to come in.” “I love your music very much George. You are a wonderful artist.” “What a lovely selection of pieces from various traditions. This old qanun is so resonant, and your beautiful technique makes it sing. Suzanne’s and Raymond’s percussion is so tight and precise it is altogether a pleasure. We need more.” “You have produced a wonderful CD! It can indeed serve as an introduction to Ottoman and Egyptian music and their differences in the modal and rhythmic systems. Your qanun, George, has a beautiful sound, and Suzanne has a real Egyptian, not to say Gipsy, temper. The recording is excellent and the booklet gives sufficient and precise information for laymen and interested professionals. Thus the CD has equally an artistic and pedagogical value which is rare on the musical market. We can only congratulate you on this exemplary recording and are glad to have it and can profit from it." “I am still dancing to your CD. I love it. Each time I listen to it, I find new nuances in the music. It is fantastic and I would recommend it to any dancer.” (Bozenka, Florida, USA, winner of the prestigious title Miss America Of The Bellydance in 2000, and Golden Crown Winner of the Ahlan Wa Sahlan Dance Festival in Egypt in 2006). “Your CD is wonderful, all dancers and music lovers should have a copy of it.” (Habeeba Hobeika, a native of Alexandria, Egypt, dancer and director of Habeeba’s Dance Studio and Egyptian Dance Ensemble, Toronto, Ontario, Canada). "Your music is inspiring to all of us. This CD is a must and it is highly recommended to every dancer. Even in Cairo, such wonderful music is missing as everyone is moving towards pop music. Your CD should be distributed in Egypt too. I personally will take one for my Dad. It is true, you are the master of the Qanun.” (Nada el-Masriya, Egyptian dancer and dance instructor, Hannan’s Belly Dance Studio, Toronto, Ontario, Canada) “It is wonderful to finally have your musical eloquence on a CD for all to enjoy. Your contagious love of music shines through in every track.” (Yasmina Ramzy, Director, Arabesque Dance Company). “I wish I can find the right words to describe this amazing CD! I went through many emotions while I was listening to certain tracks like Raqset el-Hawanem. It took me back to my days living in Egypt when I was a little girl. Of course the Qanun playing is superb. The track I know I will dance to is The Tribute to Mohammad Ali Street Composers. I felt this track from very deep within me. I almost felt like crying. I also like the Khamsa Sa‘idi track because I am always partial to real Upper Egyptian music. Another track I also love is Raqsa Suznak. Track Peshrev Rast makes me want to just relax and chill out! Sometimes I think may be I like this old traditional music because of my age, then again I remember how Amir (the Egyptian dancer) reacted to your playing. It makes me realize that this music is timeless and appealing to all ages.” “I love your CD by the way! I listened to it last night….the music is so beautiful to me! I may be younger, but I have always loved the older more traditional Arabic music, as opposed to the modern/pop music. I do like some of the modern stuff, but there is something very organic, rich and pure about the music on your CD. I am very glad that you have put this CD together.” “I received the cd.....and I absolutely LOVE it! Thank you sooo much. I am so happy that you are sharing this wonderful music with the world. Somehow you were blessed with an unfair amount of talent!” (Marilou Calce, Arabesque Dance Company, Toronto, Ontario, Canada) “I want to compliment you on your CD, it is lovely music, and I'm so glad you put it together, complete with information about the pieces.” (Ranya Renee, dancer, New York). “The fascination of the ‘Thousand and One Nights’ is in this dazzling performance, a magic carpet ride from beginning to end.” (R. Murray Schafer, Canadian composer). “My students are loving the music and I use your CD in my classes all the time. I taught a workshop recently on takseem and of course I used some of your music as an example.” (Linda Reed, dance instructor, Tennessee, USA)
|
|
