Oriental Bouquet

Abdallah Chahine - Oriental Bouquet

LP released in 1974; originally released in 1965

At the age of 80, Abdallah Chahine is one of the best-known pianists in the Arab world, and one whose mastery continues to delight his listeners. Perhaps his greatest contribution to Arabic music, however, is his invention of a piano capable of playing the quarter-tones which feature in some Arabic modes. The basic mode, Rast, uses a scale made up of 24 quarter-tone intervals arranged thus: -
Whole tone; three-quarter-tone; three-quarter-tone; Whole tone; Whole tone; three-quarter-tone; three-quarter-tone.

Compare this with the European major scale, made up of 12 semitones arranged thus:-
Whole tone; whole tone; semitone; whole tone; whole tone; whole tone; semitone.

Arabic piano music differs from the European equivalent in style, also, in that it is purely melodic: both hands play the melody at an interval of one or more octaves.
On this record, Abdallah Chahine plays music in ten Arabic modes; each item begins with a free improvisation (Taqsim), followed by a well-known folk tune. In four of the modes - Bayat, Rast, Sika and Saba - quarter-tones can be heard. (from the liner notes)
Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Hinayyina {4:36}
Mode: Bayat

2. Ya Taira Tiri {3:01}
Mode: Rast

3. Min Hana Mabsamuha {2:58}
Mode: Sika

4. Halalayya {3:06}
Mode: 'Ajam

5. Baktub Ismak {6:16}
Mode: Nahawand

6. Hawwil Ya Ghannam {3:25}
Mode: Nakreese

Side 2

1. Ya Nas Ana Mutt {4:35}
Mode: Higaz Kar

2. Lamma Rait Hagr Habibi {6:08}
Mode: Higaz Kar Kurd

3. Batit Uyuni {5:26}
Mode: Saba

4. Qadduka Al-Mayyas {6:20}
Mode: Higaz

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