Search - Phil Thornton, Hossam Ramzy :: Eternal Egypt

Almost meditative, not energetic

baladi16 | new jersey | 04/06/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Eternal Egypt was the first Middle Eastern cd I bought, and at the time I loved it. Now I realize that there are more exciting cds out there, but I still consider it good.It's got six songs - all of them are very long and repetitive with the synthesizer overlay providing most of the change. The sound is not "authentic" as it has a lot of electronic instrumentation. For rhythms - it's got a masmoudi, zaar, and two fellahi pieces, as well as two others. The songs are good for practicing dance moves and experimenting with the rhythms. Also useful for more interpretive dances, especially with veil, as they are slow and trance-like."

Wonderful fusion of Old and New

06/22/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Hossam Ramzy is one of the premier percussionists of the Middle-Eastern style. His work has done more to bring the ancient rythyms of the desert to the western world than any other artist. Phil Thornton brings his trance-like melodic music to this mix to create a fusion of new-age and old-age music. This work, and the music which inspired it, was made for meditative dance, movement and worship. In fact, the zaar, a ritual dance featured on the CD, can go on for many hours, until the dancers drop down exhausted. Most of the drum rythyms come from the "Sha'abi", one of the oldest styles of folk dancing in Egypt."

Excellent for dance work or trance and ritual work....

baladi16 | 09/29/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an intense CD filled with focused percussion and rhythm work; I find it very useful when I'm writing or dancing; it allows me to flow into a state of mind and run with it. Excellent work and I'll definitely check out their other CD's."