Johnny Farraj is a Lebanese-born musician and software engineer of Palestinian descent. His main instrument is the riqq; he also plays the 'ud and sings. Farraj is the creator of MaqamWorld, the leading Internet reference on Arabic music theory, and is a frequent Arabic music blogger, teacher and performer, as well as a lifelong listener. Sami Abu Shumays is a Palestinian-American musician, arts administrator, and independent scholar, who traveled to Cairo and Aleppo to immerse himself in Arabic Music. After returning to the U.S., he began performing and teaching, founded Zikrayat ensemble, and developed the pedagogical website Maqam lessons. He is currently Deputy Director of Flushing Town Hall, an arts presenter in Queens, NY.
Inside Arabic Music will be accessible to students and
non-specialists, but it also contains details in the later chapters
that will engage music scholars interested in the more complex
aspects of the maqam system. The book will be particularly
appealing to those who have studied Arab music previously and want
to deepen their knowledge of its theory and practice.
*Journal of American Folklore*
Inside Arabic Music will be accessible to students and
non-specialists, but it also contains details in the later chapters
that will engage music scholars interested in the more complex
aspects of the maqam system. The book will be particularly
appealing to those who have studied Arab music previously and want
to deepen their knowledge of its theory and practice.
*Nicholas Mangialardi, Journal of American Folklore*
Coauthors Farraj and Abu Shumays have written both an engaging
guide for general readers and a valuable resource for musicians and
scholars. ... Inside Arabic Music's greatest strength lies in its
generous presentation of Arab music as an accessible, living art
that today's musicians can learn and that general readers can
understand and appreciate.
*Kay Hardy Campbell, AramcoWorld*
The scope of content that might have produced two volumes is
densely packed within one highly readable book, making Inside
Arabic Music an indispensable vade mecum for the English-speaking
scholar, educator, musician, or enthusiast.
*Journal of Folklore Research*
Inside Arabic Music is a landmark piece of literature for countless
students of Arabic music such as myself, and I cannot recommend
this work highly enough to those who wish to become more immersed
in Arabic music. I have no doubt that Inside Arabic Music will
become a cornerstone of education for lovers and performers of
Arabic music, and it deserves a prized place in every enthusiast's
collection.
*Washington Report on Middle Eastern Affairs *
It is the greatest and most comprehensive source of information
regarding Arabic music currently out there...Farraj and Abu
Shumays, while focusing on exploring Arabic music, have actually
shed light on Arabic culture as a whole. It is a culture based on
community and social interaction. It is one which greatly
appreciates and cultivates art, especially music as it is a means
for social gatherings to occur. While Arabic culture may seem
overwhelming to those outside of it, its spontaneous nature comes
from a sense of inclusion and enjoyment.
*Naim Mousa, Mondoweiss*
Inside Arab Music [is] an essential starting point for anyone
hoping to deepen their understanding of any music from the region.
[...] Johnny Farraj and Sami Abu Shumays thoughtfully provide
plentiful suggestions of recordings to help your ears understand
concepts that your brain may struggle with.
*Songlines*
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