Yemen

Once again I am posting some field recordings. This is a selection of various traditional Yemeni music. There are many traditional songs here that date back at least to the 14^th Century. They are called homayni, which is poetry set to music. The first song, “Sanaa S'éville” is a perfect example. Sanaan singing is the most well known of the homayni styles.

The primary instuments here are the oud, the mizamâr (double-reeded clarinet) & various percussions: sahn; tâsa; marfa; & tabla are some. These metal percussion, played by both women & men, is one of the key elements of the Yemeni traditional music.

Various – Yemen: Music ofthe High Plateaus (اليمن - الموسيقى من الهضاب العالية),

Moyen Orient - Playa Sound Collection, 1997.

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Tracklist –

Sanaa S'éville

Ya Man Laqi Qalbi

Danse Bar'a de la Région de Manakha

Ya Muqimin Fi Sanaa

Danse Le'ba

Ya Gamar

Danse Bar'a de la Région d'Amran

Sara L-Leyl

Danse de Mariage

Raka Taruban

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Arwa ( أروى ) is a Yemeni artist, born Iman Salem Oumairan in Kuwait, in 1979. Her father is Yemeni, her mother is Egyptian. As a young girl she moved with her family to Egypt where she attended primary & high school. After graduation, she enrolled in the Cairo Architecture College, with the goal of fulfilling the family dream of having an architect among them.

Since she was young, Arwa was a passionate artist. She performed the songs of the Yemeni Icon Abu Bakr Salem. She used to participate, as a singer, in all school & social ceremonies. When she grew up, her talent was discovered at the university by the artist Youcef Mhanna, who encouraged her & even helped her in starting her career. He was the one behind her first appearance in Orbit Festival. She sang “Kama Erricha” & “Touboul Elmekalla” by Abu Bakr Salem, still her favorite artist.

Arwa is always looking for inspiration in the heritage of traditional songs of her ancestral city Hadramaut. Throughout her career, she has released four albums: Aktar Men Rouhi in 1999; Enta Aarefni in 2006; Einikk in 2007; & this album, Ghasseb Aannak in 2009. I think this music is Yemeni disco.

Arwa – Ghasseb Aannak, 2009.

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Tracklist –

Yom Wahed

Hasess Biya

Ya Ghafel

El Qssa Betoul

Safer W Khallana

Ghasseb Aannak

Jitak

Teloumouni

Mkhabbi Aalaya

Temerni

Aala Keyfak

Banat El Nass

Ben Salem

Sawad El Eyn

Enjoy,

NØ