Skip to main content

The Music of Upper and Lower Egypt

Various Artists
The Music of Upper and Lower Egypt

The Music of Upper and Lower Egypt features unique performances recorded during the Grateful Dead's 1978 tour of Egypt. Produced by Mickey Hart and issued in 1988 as part of “THE WORLD” series (now part of the Mickey Hart Collection made available by Smithsonian Folkways), the album includes music of celebration, triumph, gratitude to God (Allah), and commemoration of a bride and groom. In contrast to the first four Mattoki and Mahasi-style tracks featuring voice and drums alone, the fifth and sixth tracks in the Sa’ed Oena style feature a great variety of instruments including the supporting bass, tenor, and melodic alto variants of the mizmar (a reed instrument), tambura (a five-string lyre), tabla baladi (a double-sided stick drum), darabukka (a goblet-shaped drum), and tar (a single-skinned frame drum).

Visit mickeyhart.net for additional photos and videos from this album

Track Listing

icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
101
Egyptian music ensemble, Mosquito Island, Aswan
04:24
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
102
Egyptian music ensemble, Mosquito Island, Aswan
05:36
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
103
Egyptian music ensemble, Mosquito Island, Aswan
04:19
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
104
Egyptian music ensemble, Mosquito Island, Aswan
05:21
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
105
Egyptian music ensemble at house of Hani Sabat, Alexandria
12:59
icon-circle-play svg-new-pause-button
106
Egyptian music ensemble at house of Hani Sabat, Alexandria
12:06