Search - Rahim Alhaj :: Iraqi Music in a Time of War

Rahim Alhaj
Iraqi Music in a Time of War
Genres: International Music, Classical

Track Listings (18) - Disc #1
1. Introduction
2. The Second Baghdad/Baghdad AlThania
3. Introduction
4. Dance of the Palms/Ruqsat AlNakeel
5. Introduction
6. Dream/Helum
7. Introduction
8. Sunset of the City/Guriib AlMedina
9. Introduction
10. Missing/Showak
11. Introduction
12. Iraqi Faces/Wjooh Iraqia
13. Introduction
14. Yearning/Haneen
15. Introduction
16. Horses/Khaiyul
17. Introduction (encore)
18. Eastern Love/Hob Sharki

CD Details

All Artists: Rahim Alhaj
Title: Iraqi Music in a Time of War
Members Wishing: 1
Total Copies: 0
Label: Voxlox
Original Release Date: 10/10/2003
Release Date: 10/10/2003
Genres: International Music, Classical
Style:
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 783707782126

Synopsis

Album Description

"When I arrived in New York, I was witnessing Iraq's third war during my lifetime. But this time the war was very different for me; I was not there with my family, and I had no news from them. Yet day to day life for me was as excruciating as if I was in Baghdad. So I wanted to communicate to my audience my experience of war, the pain and the misery one feels in a hopeless situation where chaos reigns and loved ones die. I found New York a bustling city, but when I was there I did not see people smiling. I sense that my audience that night felt the despair that I was feeling, and when we came together, it was a catharsis. To play music in a time of war is to connect, to feed people with hope, and to hold onto my hope of someday seeing my mother's beautiful face once again. Her last words to me were: "I hope your cruise missiles don't kill me before I see you again". Music joings people in their souls, and when this connection happens, peace,love, and compassion can fill the hands of humanity". --Rahim Al Haj "My strongest memory from our New York time together is of the feeling that moved through the room as Rahim played for us that night, comforting our upset and laying bare his own. Listen again now to this intensely war-torn moment, and imagine, in solidarity with Rahim, how music can advocate for compassion, love and peace". --Steven Feld, Voxlox record Label, Ethnomusicologist, University of New Mexico, previously of Columbia University

CD Reviews

One Man, in a Time of War

Giordano Bruno | Wherever I am, I am. | 10/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rahim Alhaj plays the oud, an instrument similar in shape to a European lute, and he plays it very well. The sound is throatier than the lute; the strings are thicker and slacker, and the instrument is not fretted. Iraqi classical music uses bent pitches and fractional pitches - quite subtle tunings that take some time to sound "right" - and relies on the sensitive improvisation of the player to make its musical impression.

This is not the best CD to hear Rahim Alhaj's musical range and skill. For that, I recommend his CD "When the Soul is Settled." The numerous short 'songs' on this CD are all, I think, Rahim's own compositions, but what makes this CD distinct is that he introduces each song, in English, by describing the conditions of his country that he wants to reflect in music. The intros are short - a minute, a minute and a half - but poignant."

Wonderful!

MatthewT | Urbana, IL | 09/16/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I recently heard Rahim in concert, and the experience was fantastic. I picked this CD because it is a live recording (rather than a studio recording). I'm very happy with the quality, and also like the format (keeping the spoken introductions, but also keeping them separate so you can skip them after you've heard them a few times)."