Oriental music and films: CDs and vinyl by Umm Kulthum, Fairuz or Khaled, Aladdin and The Mummy, darbukas and riqs. Listen, watch and play at home.
Films and series that tell the story of the Orient.
Darbukas, ouds and tambourines to play yourself.
The oriental music and films category brings together three sections: records, films and instruments. It covers Egypt, Lebanon, Algeria, Morocco and Turkey. Here you will find what you need to listen to, watch and play oriental music at home.
The Arabic music section offers CDs and vinyl records by the great voices. Umm Kulthum, the Egyptian singer, could sing a single song for more than an hour in concert. Fairuz in Lebanon, and Khaled and Rachid Taha in Algeria made Arabic music known far beyond their own countries. Arab-Andalusian music, born in Muslim Spain, is still played in the Maghreb.
The oriental films section gathers family and adventure films on DVD and Blu-ray. You will find Disney’s “Aladdin”, both as an animated film and as a live-action film, and the “The Mummy” trilogy, with Brendan Fraser. The live-action “Aladdin”, released in 2019, was directed by Guy Ritchie. These films feature palaces, deserts and pyramids.
The oriental instruments section lets you play in your turn. The darbuka, a goblet-shaped drum, gives the rhythm to most Arabic songs. The riq, a small tambourine with jingles, accompanies it in Egyptian orchestras. Replacement skins and carrying cases complete the section.
For a record, first choose the style. Classical Arabic music, that of Umm Kulthum or Mohammed Abdel Wahab, is played in long songs with an orchestra. Rai, born in Algeria in the Oran region, blends singing, synthesisers and danceable rhythms. Arab-Andalusian music is organised into nubas, long suites of pieces. Chaabi, born in the Casbah of Algiers, tells of everyday life and exile.
Next choose the format. The CD plays anywhere, in the car as well as on a hi-fi. The vinyl needs a turntable, but offers a large illustrated sleeve that is collectable. Properly stored, a vinyl record lasts for decades.
For a film, check the format of your player. A Blu-ray player also plays DVDs, but a DVD player does not play Blu-rays. The Blu-ray offers a sharper picture on a big screen, and 4K Blu-ray needs a 4K player. Also look at the languages and subtitles shown on the back of the case.
For an instrument, think about age and level. An aluminium darbuka withstands knocks and keeps a clear sound. A synthetic skin reacts little to humidity, which suits beginners. The riq demands more technique: it is played by striking the skin and making the jingles ring with the fingertips.
For a music lover, a vinyl record by Umm Kulthum or Fairuz makes a gift to look at and listen to. For a rai fan, an album by Khaled recalls the hits of the 1990s, such as “Didi” or “Aïcha”. “Ya Rayah”, covered by Rachid Taha, is a song of exile written by Dahmane El Harrachi.
For a family evening, a box set of films pleases young and old. “Aladdin” appeals from childhood, with its songs and its genie. The “The Mummy” trilogy suits older children better, because of a few scary scenes. Giving the animated film and the 2019 film together lets you compare the two versions.
For a musician, a darbuka with its carrying case is a gift ready to play. Add a percussion method to learn the maqsoum or the baladi, two basic rhythms of Egyptian music. A riq also makes a good gift for a musician who already plays the darbuka.
Complete the gift with a novel or a history book from our oriental books. Sweets from our oriental grocery also go well with a film night or a concert at home.
