Egypt: Taqâsîm and Layâlî: Cairo Tradition

The foundation of classical Arabic music are the maqâm, any one of various modal forms based on a great variety of scales, and the taqsim, a melodic, instrumental improvisation that “may serve as a musical introduction for a … maqâm, before a song begins, or … as a musical break during the middle of a song” (Scott Marcus, Music in Egypt: Experiencing Music, Expressing Culture). In vocal music, such improvisation is called layali. Among the tracks presented here are two extended performances of taqâsim and layali in the same mode, selected to provide listeners an opportunity to compare the instrumental and vocal styles of improvisation. The principal instruments employed in Egypt are the zither-like qanun,the oud,or lute (the word “lute” comes from the Arabic “al- 'ud”), and the nay, a vertical flute without a mouthpiece. All of them may be heard here. Liner notes in English and French accompany the recording.

Track Listing

101	Layâlî and Mawwâl (Maqâm Bayâtî)	Ibrahim El-Haggar, Sami Nussair	15:02
102	Taqsîm Bayâtî (1)	Wahbi Labib, Muhammad el-Arabi	05:23
103	Samâ'î El-'Aryân	The Takht Ensemble of Cairo	04:19
104	Taqsîm Bayâtî (2)	Gomâa Muhammad Ali	13:39
105	Taqsîm Farah-faza	Sami Nussair, Muhammad el-Arabi	08:47
106	Darabukka solo	Muhammad El-Arabi	03:58