Chapter 12 From Baladi to Belly Dance: Rhythm, Dance, and Music in Egypt and Beyond
Chapter 12
Further Listening
(Note: Beyond the specific items listed below, consult music reference works such as The Rough Guide to World Music by Simon Broughton et al. [London; New York: Rough Guides, 2006-] and Ethnomusicology: A Research Guide, by Jennifer Post [2nd ed., Routledge, 2011] for information on additional audio recordings. Use internet music providers such as Smithsonian Global Sound [ for chapter-related listening and see the Internet resources sections of this Online Learning Center).
Music of Egypt and the Islamic world
Arabian Masters Series. 1999-2004.EMI Records.
Includes separate CD volumes devoted to the music of Muhammad ‘Abd al-Wahhab (Mohamed Abdel Wahab), Umm Kulthum (Oum Kalsoum), plus several compilation CDs featuring selections by these and other legendary Arab composers and performers such as Fairouz, Amr Diab, and others.
Best of Baladi and Saaidi. 1997. ARC Music.
Egyptian percussionist Hossam Ramzy with other musicians.
Best of Hossam Ramzy. 1997-2005. ARC Music.
Compilation volumes of recordings by Egyptian percussionist Hossam Ramzy.
Egypt: Echoes of the Nile: Aspects of Egyptian Music. 1997. Multicultural Media MCM 3005.
Recorded by Nobuo Mizuno with texts, technical, and historical notes included.
The Music of Islam. Celestial Harmonies. 17-CDs
A compendium, with examples drawn from throughout the Islamic world—North Africa, the Middle East, and Indonesia. The complete series is available as a boxed set, but individual volumes may be purchased separately as well. There is also a series sampler CD (Celestial Harmonies CD 13159). Volume 1, Al Qahira Music of Cairo, features instrumental “classical” music in the Cairo tradition, with ensemble tracks and solo selections illustrating instruments such as the qanun, nay, ‘ud, and tabla. Volume 10, Qur’an Recitation, Istanbul, Turkey, is also worthy of note.
The Rough Guide to Arabic Lounge. 2010. World Music Network.
A sampler of recordingsof popular music from the Arab world.
The Rough Guide to the Music of Egypt. 2003. World Music Network.
A compilation recording with both traditional music and more contemporary examples.
Sufi Chants from Cairo, Egypt. 1999. Institut Du Monde Arabe 321023. Performed by La Châdhiliyya; Mohammed El Helbawy, conducting. Notes by Bernard Moussali in French, with English translation, and vocal texts in French and English translations, some also with the original Arabic (10 p.).
Sufi Music. 2001. World Music Network.
Sufi music from Senegal, Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, Iraq, and Pakistan.
A Tribute to Oum Kalsoum (Hommage à Oum Kalsoum).2009. Institut du Monde Arabe 321070.
Music Festival concert hosted by the Institut du monde Arabe performed by the National Arab Music Ensemble of the Cairo Opera and conducted by Salim Sahhab featuring performers from various Arab nations. Song lyrics in Arabic with French and English translations and biographical and program notes in French with English translations.
Women of Egypt 1924-1931: Pioneers of Stardom and Fame. 2006. Topic Records TSCD 931.
Compilations of popular songs, instrumental music, and qasidah selected from the World and Traditional Music Section of the British Library Sound Archive. Program notes by Amira Mitchell plus partial English translation of Arabic song texts.
La Clef de Grenade (The Key to Granada). 2001. Institut du Monde Arabe. Saïd Chraïbi, oud; with Jamal Rioui, percussion.
Good recording featuring ‘ud and Arab percussion. Notes in French and English by Frédéric Deval.
Compagnies Musicales du Tafilalet: L’Appel des Oasis (The Call of the Oases). 2004. Institut du Monde Arabe 321061.
Vocal and instrumental music from the Tafilalet region in Morocco recorded in 2002. Program notes in French with English translation, plus partial text translations in French and English .
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