THE SONG OF THE NEY (Persian Classical Music)
Hossein Omoumi
(ney) Sima Bina (vocal) Madjid Khaladj (tombak, daf) Madjid
Derakhshani (tar)
Nimbus NI 7060/1
[70.03+57.28]
Buy
through MusicWeb for £12 postage
paid World-wide.
Musicweb
Purchase button
This is another compilation in the exemplary Nimbus World Music series.
The ney is thought to be the world's oldest musical instrument, cut
from a reed and pierced with five holes. Hossein Omoumi has developed
the instrument with innovations which have extended its performance
possibilities. The first of the two CDs is a solo performance with drum
accompaniment in the rhythmical pieces. Although only a single ney
is used throughout, the effect is often of a conversation between passages
in the breathy lower register answered with the more liquid tone of the higher.
It is seductive and compelling music, with melodies elaborated in some dozen
modes.
The second CD features the singer Sima Bina, who has an attractive,
open-throated voice and the combination of her singing the with ney and
accompanying instruments is delightful. This is accessible music, easy to
enjoy. The presentation includes informative essays by Omoumi himself, but
not transliterations with translations as in some other releases. It can
be unreservedly recommended, as can also two other of Nimbus's specially
priced World Music 2 CD sets of Wu Man (pipa) NI
7043/4
Crotchet
and Zia Mohiuddin Dagar (rubra vina) NI
7047/8.Crotchet
Reviewer
Peter Grahame Woolf
See also review by Gary Dalkin
