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Three Iraki musicians, Salim Salem, Abdel Mounem Ahmad and Fadi Fares Aziz, all of them refugees, have released a 15 track album [ Amazon USA download link | Amazon UK download page ] of enchanting Iraki music to Amazon [US | UK] and other music sharing sites such as iTunes, Napster, Amie Street, IMVU, lala, ShockHound, Rhapsody and emusic to honour today – world refugee day. The album, which the trio decided should be called "Transitions" was made with the help of the UNHCR and any profits will go to help other Iraki refugees.
The three met in Damascus as refugees who had fled the bloodbath that is occupied Irak. They say they had often talked about recording Iraki music that they hoped would touch an international audience. Salim Salem’s dream of recording with Abdel Mounem and Fadi Fares Aziz became reality when the UNHCR office in Damascus agreed to help the trio as part of its campaign to Iraki artists living as refugees in Syria the chance to express themselves artistically.
The music is a beautiful fusion of classical and modern techniques, airs, and styles, and is inspired by their experience of life as refugees. Abdel Mounem Ahmad on the qanún (a kind of zither), Fadi Fares Aziz on the ney (a type of pan flute) and Salim Salem on the oud (lute), have managed to produce a collection of hauntingly beautiful elegaic melodies that soothe the soul. Baghdad was a centre for Arab music, and for me this music calls up very happy memories of sitting in some of the city’s teashops laughing and chatting with friends or sitting by myself with a book and marvelling at the musical dexterity and diversity on offer. The fact that every track downloaded will mean 60 US cents for the UNHCR’s lifeline programme for refugees in Syria made my enjoyment of this wonderful album by three very talented musicians all the sweeter.
The album works well as an introduction to Iraki music, a collection of soothing and refreshing melodies, it’s also a great excuse to donate to a good cause.
you can preview the music on Amazon.
- enjoy
markfromireland
10 Comments
This posting doesn’t give any idea of how lovely this music is but you can preview the music on Amazon.
Those two links again:
Transitions – on Amazon USA
Transitions – on Amazon UK
This is incdentally likely to be the only album the three will record to together. I’m told that:
Fadi Fares Aziz was recently resettled in the US as a refugee with UNHCR help. Abdel Mounem Ahmad has decided to risk returning to Baghdad. Salim Salem remains as a refugee in Damascus.
mfi
While I’m at it I’ll tout this article:
Living in Exile: Young Iraqi refugees in Syria
(Article is from the UK Independent.)
Or you can just Click through to see their photographs
mfi
Thank you, Mark, enchanting.
Perfect word – enchanting. Glad you liked it. There’s two things I’ll always associate with Irakis – their love of poetry and their love of music.
Thanks so much Mark. I’m listening to my downloaded album this very minute. It’s delightful.
Spread the word to any music lovers you know ! :-)
Facebooked, blogged and emailed it, dear sir. And I hopes it helps.
thank you mfi
Seconded.
You’re welcome all, we deal so regularly with heartbreak and horror that to be able to deal with something that is beautiful, gives joy, and will help do good is an opportunity to be grabbed.
Hope all who read this and listen to the music love it as much as I do,
mfi