Search - Andre Hajj & Ensemble :: Instrumental Music From Lebanon

Traditional Takht in Modern Style

Dr. Debra Jan Bibel | Oakland, CA USA | 09/15/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Lebanon has produced some very fine oud musicians, and André Hajj, a professor of Lebanon's National Conservatory of Music, must be ranked among them. In this recording, he is part of a traditional takht ensemble, a classical chamber orchestra composed of oud, ney, violin, qanun zither, and drum percussion (tabla, riqq, mezher) plus a double bass. Both Arabic and Turkish musical forms are heard. While the musical pieces are traditional in following particular maqam modes and rhythmic patterns (2/4, 4/4, 6/4, 7/4, and 10/8), there is a modern sensitivity, which is found particularly on track 4, an oud solo that alternates between major and minor maqams. The last track tackles an usual 11/8 beat that moves to 7/8 and 4/4 based on a song associated with old Moorish Andalusia. This 50-minute long album should please those interested in acoustic traditional music of the Middle East. It is pleasant, smooth listening with a wide variety of interesting rhythmic patterns, good ensemble work, and taqsim oud improvisations."