When the Soul is Settled: Music of Iraq

Rahim Alhaj with Souhail Kaspar SFW40533

As received from his teachers and transformed by his considerable musical gifts and life experience, Rahim Alhaj carries on a significant strand of Iraqi musical tradition toward future generations—in his own way, in his own time. Alhaj studied music in Baghdad with Munir Bashir and other great teacher-performers. His extended improvisations on the oud, accompanied on Near Eastern percussion by Souhail Kaspar, include uniquely Iraqi pieces. Together they represent a proud tradition's meeting with modernity. Extensive bilingual notes, 32-page booklet. 73 minutes.

Watch a video of the recording sessions from this release here.

AWARDS
2007 GRAMMY Award Nominee for Best Traditional World Music Album

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Country(s) Iraq
Culture Group(s) Arab
Instrument(s) Oud; Percussion, various

Year of Recording 2006
Record Label Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
Source Archive Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
Credits Recorded by Pete Reiniger ; Produced by Daniel Sheehy ; Produced by D.A. Sonneborn ; Photography by Douglas Kent Hall ; Mastered by Pete Reiniger ; Design by Zaki Ghul ; Liner Notes by D.A. Sonneborn

Download Liner Notes

101	Taqsim Maqam Ajam	Rahim Alhaj with Souhail Kaspar	8:48
102	Taqsim Maqam Mukhalif	Rahim Alhaj with Souhail Kaspar	4:32
103	Taqsim Maqam Sika	Rahim Alhaj with Souhail Kaspar	7:42
104	Taqsim Maqam Kurd	Rahim Alhaj with Souhail Kaspar	8:34
105	Taqsim Maqam Bayyat-Husayni	Rahim Alhaj with Souhail Kaspar	7:49
106	Taqsim Maqam Hijaz	Rahim Alhaj with Souhail Kaspar	8:16
107	Taqsim Maqam Lami	Rahim Alhaj with Souhail Kaspar	9:19
108	Taqsim Maqam Sharqi Rast	Rahim Alhaj with Souhail Kaspar	10:49
109	Taqsim Maqam Saba	Rahim Alhaj with Souhail Kaspar	7:05

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