Brian Prunka
Oud Junkie
Posts: 2939
Registered: 1-30-2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
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Mood: Stringish
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Inside Arabic Music
I just wanted to post a review of the new book "Inside Arabic Music" by Johnny Farraj (of maqamworld.com) and Sami Abu Shumays (of the group Zikrayat
and maqamlessons.com).
Full disclosure: Johnny and Sami have been my friends and colleagues for many years, though I have no involvement in the book other than making a few
minor suggestions in the section on the oud.
This book is an absolute treasure for anyone looking to learn more about Arabic music and maqam, specifically as it relates to the "Golden Age" of
Arabic music from the 1930s-1970s where Arabic music moved away from the Ottoman influence and developed its own highly distinct tradition.
While the book doesn't specifically address the oud in great detail, the extensive analysis and listening guides, and the detailed exploration of
maqam (much more comprehensive and coherent than any other Arabic music theory resource available) is an extremely valuable resource for understanding
all genres of Arabic music, including taqasim. Their sections of analysis of ajnas and maqam, modulation and sayr are far more useful and thorough
than any other resource in English.
The book walks a fine line between academic research and general readership; the authors don't sacrifice precise and detailed information but manage
to present it in a very readable style. Part of their philosophy is to emphasize listening, so convoluted explanations are considered secondary to
directed listening examples (some include transcriptions for analysis, but there are too many examples provided to have full transcriptions of
everything).
I highly recommend it without reservation to anyone interested in maqam and Arabic music.
Inside Arabic Music
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alim
Oud Junkie
Posts: 154
Registered: 5-25-2004
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Fyi, the amazon link, I just ordered my copy.
https://www.amazon.com/Inside-Arabic-Music-Performance-Century/dp/01...
Cheers,
Ali-
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Jack_Campin
Oud Junkie
Posts: 333
Registered: 5-6-2007
Location: Scotland
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Publisher's page, if like me you would rather not patronize the world's biggest slavemaster:
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/inside-arabic-music-97801906...
(I have never bought anything from Amazon).
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Khalil_Oud
Oud Maniac
Posts: 86
Registered: 8-28-2016
Location: Montreal
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Hi,
I agree to buy from the publisher... but the price is 125 $ (CA $) in stad of 40 $ (Amazon)...
Now, many authors choose a place to sell their books (if I remember, Charbel Rohana sent his book to a place (church ?) in USA... that's good !
Regards,
Khalil
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alim
Oud Junkie
Posts: 154
Registered: 5-25-2004
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The $125, is for the hardback copy. You can get the $39 paperback version (same as Amazon) from them at this link if you prefer not to buy form
Amazon:
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/inside-arabic-music-97801906...
Ali-
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Jack_Campin
Oud Junkie
Posts: 333
Registered: 5-6-2007
Location: Scotland
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Thanks! I didn't spot that at first.
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Jack_Campin
Oud Junkie
Posts: 333
Registered: 5-6-2007
Location: Scotland
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Mood: No Mood
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Just got my copy, it's out in the UK now - looks fantastic.
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