Folk Music of Palestine

In this 1959 collection, American folklorist Harold Courlander documents a tradition of Palestinian folk song that has previously been known only through oral ritual. The compilation features vocally driven recordings as they are performed for ceremonial and spiritual purposes, including "Song of the Month of Fasting," "Recitation from the Koran," and several wedding songs. Songs capture different dialects and regional choral techniques.

Liner notes include a comparison of the various cultural origins of Middle Eastern music, as well as descriptions and musical analyses of each song.

Track Listing

101	Gulait Dore	Two female Bokharian singers, three doyra players	01:17
102	Al Matcha Anora	Mixed Bokharian singers, doyra players	02:01
103	Tulkum Song of Sandy Hills	Male Bokharian singer, tar and doyra players	02:48
104	Raftam Rayi	Female Bokharian singer	01:35
105	Taki Chasma	Female Bokharian singer	00:35
106	Recitation from Firdausi's Shaname	Two male Iranian singers	01:36
107	Ve Eem Lo Akshav	Male and female Hebrew singers	01:17
108	Aharei Mot	Male vocalist	01:32
201	Kedusha	Male Hebrew vocalist	01:10
202	Kether	Male Hebrew vocalist, congregation	01:44
203	Song of Moses (Exodus XIV, 30)	Male Hebrew Yemenite vocalist	00:55
204	Cerimonial Song	Male Hebrew Yemenite singers, drummer	02:20
205	Prophet's Birthday Song Light of the Redeemed Noor Al Muffadah Lah	Male soloist and chorus	01:30
206	Song of the Ramadan for the Month of Fasting	Male soloist, female chorus, 'ud and durbakki players	01:22
207	Recitation from the Koran	Male vocalist	01:02
208	Love Song	Male singer, violinist, 'ud, durbakki, and kanoun players	01:49