Recorded
at Hikmat Sound Studio in Baghdad in Summer 2003.
Amer
Tawfiq is an Iraqi singer, musician and veteran instructor at the
Institute of Music Studies in Baghdad, where he once taught Iraq's
most famous singer, kadhim al-Sahir. Tawfiq has represented Iraqi
music in various international festivals from Tunisia to Indonesia.
His unwillingness to sing the praises of the former regime like so
many others cost him dearly in exposure and publicity and deprived
him of the wider audience he so deserved.
We
were fortunate enough to meet him at a rehearsal in Baghdad last July
and were mesmerized by his singing. He graciously agreed to record
an assortment of Iraqi songs for the soundtrack of our documentary
"About Baghdad."
Tawfiq's
arresting voice navigates the various maqamat like a seasoned sailor,
taking the listener to the heights in classics such as "Fawq
il-Nakhal," "Hinna," "Ya Umm il-`Uyun il-Sud,"
"Tal`a min Bayt Abuha." and alighting with heart-wrenching
renditions of Yas Khudhur's "Taybeen" and "Ghareeba."
For
lovers of Iraqi music, this soundtrack is a unique bouquet of the
Iraqi repertoire interpreted by a master. For others, it is a timely
introduction.
The
soundtrack is available for sale at www.AboutBaghdad.com
