Yemen: Songs from Hadramawt

The Hadramawt region of Yemen has always been a center of culture for the Arab world. This album, recorded between 1985 and 1995, is devoted to the vocal art of male singers, both amateur and professional, and highlights dân, a genre of many dimensions (including entertainment dânand dân of camel drivers). Some of the singing may be accompanied by instruments: drum, flute, and oud. Poetry is an important expression of cultural life in Hadramawt, and is often sung. Departing from common musical practice elsewhere in the Arab world, the Yemenis are always careful to pass on the names of the poets and composers of each song. The liner notes provide background information about each song and photographs of some of the region’s exceptional architecture.

Track Listing

101	Hadramî khayyâli - awwâldî : Atâha Rasûlî (My messenger came to her) Mohammed bin Shamikh	09:55
102	Dân tarab: Hayya layâlî jamîla (Entertainment dân: Oh! Beautiful nights) Hussein Abdul Kadir al Kaf	05:33
103	Dân jammâla (Dân of the camel drivers) Hangil	04:09
104	Tahwîda and khuwaîb (Pilgrimage songs) Salim Rijab al-Tahhan	08:05
105	Jalsat dân (Dân session) Said ‘Idha ba Hashwan	10:45
106	Dân tarab : Ana wa Khillî trâdina (Entertainment dân: My love and I have made up) Mohammed bin Shamikh	04:56
107	Dân jammâlla (Dân of the camel drivers) Awadh bin Yaslam Braik	03:56
108	Ghinâ' Banî Maghra (Song of Banî Maghra) Salim Rijab al-Tahhan	03:05
109	Tarhîb : Bushrâk hâdha-I yaumu Îd (Welcome song: Today is a feast day) Mohammed bin Shamikh	03:40
110	Dan tarab : Khallî ashuf waddak yâ danîn (Entertainment dân: Show me tenderness) Saleh ba ‘Issa	07:32