COMPOSERS: Moneim Adwan
LABELS: Accords Croises
ALBUM TITLE: Il était une fois en Palestine
WORKS: Il était une fois en Palestine
PERFORMER: Moneim Adwan (singer, oudh), various musicians
CATALOGUE NO: AC 111
This young singer/oudh-player hails from Gaza, whence he emigrated to Tripoli in order to acquire the instrumental skills he was unable to develop at home. But now he is back, and busily promoting Palestine’s ancient musical traditions in an album whose style he describes as ‘pan-Oriental’, drawing in, as it does, musicians from all over the Middle East. But they’re expertly chosen: the violin, ney flute, and kanun zither here make lovely melismatic foils to his own melismatic vocal performances. Each song on this recording is sharply distinguished from the others in tone and atmosphere: tradition is remaking itself. Michael Church
Moneim Adwan: Il était une fois en Palestine
This young singer/oudh-player hails from Gaza, whence he emigrated to Tripoli in order to acquire the instrumental skills he was unable to develop at home. But now he is back, and busily promoting Palestine’s ancient musical traditions in an album whose style he describes as ‘pan-Oriental’, drawing in, as it does, musicians from all over the Middle East. But they’re expertly chosen: the violin, ney flute, and kanun zither here make lovely melismatic foils to his own melismatic vocal performances.
Our rating
5
Published: January 20, 2012 at 3:58 pm