There is nothing like the Qanun, to make you feel, as it was in the beginning of one's life. George Sawa is a National Treasure of Canada. He obviously has gone to considerable effort to preserve and refine the unique sounds of the classical music of the original modern age of the 11th century Middle East and yet advance it through the ages so it resonates for us all today with equal power and grace. Thanks Prof Sawa

Comments from Dancers and Dance Instructors “I am still dancing to your CD. I love it. Each time I listen to it, I find new nuances in the music. It is fantastic and I would recommend it to any dancer.” (Bozenka, Florida, USA, winner of the prestigious title Miss America Of The Bellydance in 2000, and Golden Crown Winner of the Ahlan Wa Sahlan Dance Festival in Egypt in 2006). “Your CD is wonderful, all dancers and music lovers should have a copy of it.” (Habeeba Hobeika, a native of Alexandria, Egypt, dancer and director of Habeeba’s Dance Studio and Egyptian Dance Ensemble, Toronto, Ontario, Canada). “It is wonderful to finally have your musical eloquence on a CD for all to enjoy. Your contagious love of music shines through in every track.” (Yasmina Ramzy, Director, Arabesque Dance Company). “I received the cd.....and I absolutely LOVE it! Thank you sooo much. I am so happy that you are sharing this wonderful music with the world. Somehow you were blessed with an unfair amount of talent!” (Marilou Calce, Arabesque Dance Company, Toronto, Ontario, Canada) “I want to compliment you on your CD, it is lovely music, and I'm so glad you put it together, complete with information about the pieces.” (Ranya Renee, dancer, New York). “The music on this CD brings me to a different level, calms my mind and soul, and creates wide free space inside me for new ideas to come in.” (Saida of Poland, winner of the 2008 Stockholm Belly Dance Festival). “I wish I can find the right words to describe this amazing CD! I went through many emotions while I was listening to certain tracks like Raqset el-Hawanem. It took me back to my days living in Egypt when I was a little girl. Of course the Qanun playing is superb. The track I know I will dance to is The Tribute to Mohammad Ali Street Composers. I felt this track from very deep within me. I almost felt like crying. I also like the Khamsa Sa‘idi track because I am always partial to real Upper Egyptian music. Another track I also love is Raqsa Suznak. Track Peshrev Rast makes me want to just relax and chill out! Sometimes I think may be I like this old traditional music because of my age, then again I remember how Amir (the Egyptian dancer) reacted to your playing. It makes me realize that this music is timeless and appealing to all ages.” (Nervine Kerbes, Egyptian dancer and instructor, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada). “I love your CD by the way! I listened to it last night….the music is so beautiful to me! I may be younger, but I have always loved the older more traditional Arabic music, as opposed to the modern/pop music. I do like some of the modern stuff, but there is something very organic, rich and pure about the music on your CD. I am very glad that you have put this CD together.” (Serena Kerbes, Egyptian dancer, Calgary, Alberta). “I love your music very much George. You are a wonderful artist.” (Mayyadah, dancer and instructor, Pforzheim, Germany). “It is wonderful, George. I look forward to seeing you in person to shake the golden hands that made this CD.” (Momo Kadous, Egyptian dancer and instructor, Frankfurt, Germany). “I listen to this CD all day. It is more than excellent and takes me back to the old days. It is very educational, and we need more CDs.” (Mohamed Sadek, Egyptian drummer and dance instructor, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada). Comments from Musicians and Historians “What a lovely selection of pieces from various traditions. This old qanun is so resonant, and your beautiful technique makes it sing. Suzanne’s and Raymond’s percussion is so tight and precise it is altogether a pleasure. We need more.” (Prof. Abraham Marcus, University of Texas, Austin). “You have produced a wonderful CD! It can indeed serve as an introduction to Ottoman and Egyptian music and their differences in the modal and rhythmic systems. Your qanun, George, has a beautiful sound, and Suzanne has a real Egyptian, not to say Gipsy, temper. The recording is excellent and the booklet gives sufficient and precise information for laymen and interested professionals. Thus the CD has equally an artistic and pedagogical value which is rare on the musical market. We can only congratulate you on this exemplary recording and are glad to have it and can profit from it.” (Dr. Eckhard Nerbauer, Institute for the History of Arabic and Islamic Sciences, J. W. Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany). “The fascination of the ‘Thousand and One Nights’ is in this dazzling performance, a magic carpet ride from beginning to end.” (R. Murray Schafer, Canadian composer).