Album Notes

Ghada Shbeir "Winner of the BBC3 World Music Award" for 2007

You can also hear Ghada Shbeir in CD:"Communique#2" (tracks 2 and 5)


This CD represents the quintessence of the “Muwashah”. Care for details and complete reproduction of suites, without any new composition of preludes, interludes or finales; make of this work an authentic product of “Tarab”.

This recording is the fruit of a convergence between “Forward music”, great musicians and a fascinating singer, whose goal was to go back into the past, and bring this music to life in its integrity. A series of extraordinary musical sessions occurred during the recording of this CD. We were immersed in a state of exaltation re-living that golden era in Arab history, when humanism, music and the arts prevailed.

To those who’re not familiar with “Tarab”, we invite you to discover the meaning of this word in music. And to those who are already familiar with this genre, we‘re quite sure that you will find in this CD all the ecstasy proper to this style.


Participants:


Ghada Shbeir Vocals Transcription-Research

Charbel Rouhana Oud (Arabic Luth)Transcription–Band Leader

Ali El Khatib Rik (Arabic Percussions)

Samir Siblini Nay (Arabic Pan Flute)

Tony Khalifeh Violin

Abboud Saadi Acoustic Bass



Ghazi AbdelBaki Executive Producer-Recording-Mixing- Mastering

Forward Music Producers

Recorded Mixed & Mastered at Forward Productions Studios- Beirut-Lebanon



Ghada Shbeir – Biography:

Ghada Shbeir is born in Lebanon. She studied Musical Sciences at the University of USEK and has a Masters Degree in Musicology and Middle Eastern Singing. Today she teaches singing and Middle Eastern Theory at USEK and at the National Conservatory of Music. She is considered one of the leading specialists in Arabo-Andalusian singing, Assyrian, Maronite and Antique Religious chants.

In 1997, Ghada Shbeir was awarded the first prize of the best Arabic Singer competition in Egypt. She represents Lebanon frequently in music conventions and festivals around the world. (Poland, Canada, Jordan, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Belgium, Spain, London, Paris…)

Ghada Shbeir has published two books. The first is a study of the Arabo-Andalusian singing tradition “ The Muwashah after the Cairo caucus of 1932” and the second is a research on the music of Sayyed Darwish “ The Muwashahat and Adwars of Sayyed Darwish”

She recently won the BBC World Music Award for the Middle East and North Africa, and the Audience Award for 2007.