Music for Belly Dancing: Instrumentals from the Near East

Music associated with belly dancing has had many influences over the centuries. In this recording, the music is influenced by the pulsating rhythms of Romani music as it is integrated into Turkish, Arabic and Greek melodies. The result is a dozen instrumentals featuring belly dancing music of the Near East. The dance rhythms swing from the sensuous 7/8 beat of the Tsifte-Telli to the spirited 9/8 rhythm of the Karsilama. The music is performed by Anestos Athounasiou and his orchestra with Georgos Koros on violin and Vasilios Sala on clarinet.