Reviews of
"Arabic Musical Scales:
Basic Maqam Teachings with 2 CD's" |
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All I have to say is “WOW”!
You just put together what I was looking for , a concise but yet comprehensive material for someone like me to study and get on with my ultimate passion, Arabic music!
Several years ago, I bought an oud during a visit to Egypt. Today, I am in my forties, and still learning to read music, play the oud and the ney. The problem was: I was never able to advance because of the lack of material available to guide and teach me about Arabic music.
I bought your CD’s and book (Basic Maqam Techniques). It was a wonderful surprise. Your CD’s and book put everything I was looking for in my hands with no effort!
Thank you very much for the diligent work. Please keep it up for people like me and for every one who is willing to learn and advance in Arabic music. |
I recently purchased your book entitled "Arabic Musal Scales: Basic Maqam Teachings" and I just wanted to express my appreciation for your work.I am a native of Bahrain (a small island nation in the Persian Gulf), and I have been playing the Oud for nearly 4 years now. I am currently a graduate student in one of the universities in Tokyo.
I find your book encouraging to me, as a player of the Oud. It is a good record for me to refresh and review my current knowledge of Maqam Theory, and to learn some new maqamat and modulation concepts. In my case, I have mostly taken the "oud" itself as a study subject, without focusing much on maqam theory. For this, I find your book a very useful and encouraging.
Also, as a Middle Easterner myself, I also feel very happy to see such a book in print, as it sheds light on a unique aspect of a region highly misunderstood and full of troubles in modern times.
Once again, thank you,
Hasan |
Amazon Review: C'est concis, assez complet (difficile d'être exhaustif avec les maqamat). Il ne faut pas s'attendre à un ouvrage développé, c'est plutôt un tableau des maqamat les plus populaires, nécessaires à un répertoire varié d'improvisation. Je conseille cependant de comparer avec d'autres ouvrages ou d'autres sites car les noms et les formes de ces modes varient d'une source à l'autre.
Translation: This book is concise and complete enough (although it's hard to be exhaustive with maqamat). Do not look for a completely comprehensive and developed book, but rather an array of the most popular maqamat which are needed for a varied repertoire of improvisation. I recommend comparison with other books or other sites for names and shapes of these maqamat as these modes vary from one source to another. |
Amazon Review: Having been playing percussion in Middle-eastern music for over 15 years, and also being a string player, I finally wanted to learn the way to play the music with melodic instruments. I bought a baglama saz and began messing around, but was not satisfied with my knowledge of the scales used in this music.
Cameron has been a friend of mine for roughly 6 years and I have always enjoyed his mastery of the oud, ney, and voice in Middle-eastern music.
I told him that I wanted to learn more and he suggested I study this book.
It is, by far, the best source of the kind of information I was looking for that I have yet encountered. Since studying this book my level of playing has grown exponentially! |
Amazon Review: Excellent book. I would highly recommend the CD's that are sold seperately as well. They are very well done. Very informational and also have improvised demonstrations of the scales so you can hear each scale in a musical setting. |
Amazon Review: This is the best book I have found for American beginners. My musical education is heavily weighted in the western classical style, which makes it difficult for me to appreciate much of Arabic music. My ears tend not to hear what is being played. They hear what they think is the equivalent in western scale systems. I do not have the CD to this book, which is prabably a shame. Even so, Arabic musical vocabulary is so important that I benefit immensely from reading the text. The print is large, well formated, adequately cross-referenced, and I understand it. It is supplemental to lessons. The only quibble is possibly that the book does contain more material. But then it would not be a beginner's book. |
I recently received your book and CD's of the Arabic scales and maqam. Thank You so much for writing such a comprehensive work. I am a former bouzoukee player .I am currently studying the cello. I am a member of the Hellenic and Near Eastern Music Society Orchestra. I am of Asia Minor heritage. My parents were born in the Smyrna Area of Turkey. They gave to me the rich traditions of that area of the world. The music is in my soul.
As much as I love playing the bouzoukee, I felt constrained at not being able to hit the quarter tones and I do hear them and feel them. The cello is the instrument I chose to allow me to express myself. Your book and CD's are a perfect tool for learning even more than I know now. I play classical music as well , but my heart and soul are in my roots.
Keep on doing what you and your beloved are doing. We need to spread Love and Peace on this Planet and Music and the arts are a fundamental way of doing this. I would love to sit and play my cello with you.
Alex |
Dear Cameron,
A pleasure! You're book has just arrived and it's a godsend. Found it difficult
to source a book on the nuts and bolts of Arabic music and yours fits the bill
perfectly, particularly as there are supporting CDs.
A really great resource - thanks!
Julian
Book received today with thanks. Compliments on the quality, an excellent book which is exactly what I've been looking for. All good.
Many thanks
Steve
Your book on middle eastern scales has been invaluable to me. I lead a Middle Eastern Musical Ensemble but I'm the only Arab in the group, so that book has been the standard by which I teach my musicians. It really is a great book. It's good to see someone out there doing what you're doing.
Shadi |