Classical Music

Hossam Ramzy, Egypt’s Ambassador of Rhythm, was born in Cairo. His musical career began early, when at the age of three he was given his first drum- an Egyptian table. His passion for percussion was noted by his family who encouraged him to master his craft by studying with the leading music teachers of Egypt. A move to Saudi Arabia introduced Hossam to many of the Bedouin tribes who gave the young Hossam a rich insight into the cultural origins of Middle Eastern music that became the inspiration for many of his later rhythmic directions. Faddah (“Silver”) is an album of classical style Egyptian Dance compositions, created by Hossam Ramzy. Creating music for a dance routine is rather complex and requires vision and innovation. You have to be able to see the dancer in your mind while writing such music for her, counting her every step, caring about her every move and working it out rhythmically, melodically and making sure it flows from mode to mode, from beat to beat with logically worked-out transitions.

On Mexico's west coast, inland from the tourist zone of Acapulco and Huatulco, the Costa Chica is an isolated region of towns and villages in the foothills of the Sierra Madre. It is a region known, from the outside, for violence and poverty, but, as the boleros in this album reveal, has a deep feeling for poetry, a love of music and constant parties where it all comes together far from the recording studios and the concert halls of Mexico City. In 2016, after several journeys to the area, these five remarkable bands were recorded. The groups, each in their own way, are masters of the bolero tradition, inherited from the local musician and composer Alvaro Carrillo. This collection includes very well known boleros like 'Sabor a mi' and 'Luz de luna' as well as contemporary boleros from the Costa Chica, recorded for the very first time.

Finnish tango is alive and well in the hands of the Tango-orkesteri Unto! Beautiful, sweeping melodies in elegant, captivating arrangements, presented with longing and passion. Artist biographies plus info about each of the pieces. -Proper music.

The guzheng, also called “zheng,” is a horizontally-played harp (or a plucked “half tube zither”) with a sound box. It looks similar to the Japanese koto, with an arched sound board of soft wutong wood, approximately six feet long and less than one foot wide. The sides and the bottom of the sound box are made of red sandal wood. The strings are traditionally silk but since the 1960s steel or nylon strings have been in use. They run across individually moveable bridges. The guzheng was popular as early as 475 BC, especially in the state of Qin in western China- hence the old name “qin zheng.” The strings are tuned to give three complete octaves of a pentatonic scale. CPP Music Productions is the only professional music recording and production studio in the UK dedicated to Chinese musicians and Chinese music. Founded in the 1990s the studio produced many recordings and compositions ranging from traditional Chinese to “East-Meets-West” style music, as well as contemporary music compositions.

This captivating album presents a beautiful cross-section of music from China and Japan, from tender and contemplative Chinese string melodies to the powerful thunder of Japanese taiko drums. Featuring a great variety of music played on traditional instruments in traditional and contemporary arrangements. Extensive information about each of the artists and the pieces. (ARC Music)

Great Cuban music; captures the magic of the golden era of 1950s Cuba. Acoustic guitars, bass and lots of percussion and multi-part vocals. Includes favourites such as Yolanda (Pablo Milanes), the famous Chan Chan (Compay Segundo[Buena Vista Social Club]) and more.

Former Spanish National Champion accorionist Enrique Ugarte, presents this new release, Classics on the Accordion. Ugarte displays perfect command of his instrument, as her performs classic and folk pieces that he has arranged. Works included are favorites like Ravel's Bolero, Mozart's Eine Kleine Nacht musik, and the Sabre Dance.

Classical Music

Sarvar Sabri is an internationally renowned table player whose versatility and passion for the rich diversity of the world’s musical traditions has spurred him on constantly to experiment with other world-class musicians and composers, and to extend the boundaries of his own classical form. Sarvar Sabri started learning table at a very early age from Ustad Mehdi Hasan Khan and then from Ustad Chhotey Ahmed Jan Khan. Later he came under the guidance of Ustad Bundu Khan of Meerut. He is not only proficient as a soloist, but also works with many Indian classical vocalists, instrumentalists, and dancers. His strength and distinguishing feature is his versatility; he is able to work with a range of art forms, showing awareness and sensitivity to the different styles required. As well as Indian classical music, Sabri has also been involved in experimental and fusion work with Western classical, jazz and popular music. He is the founder of the Sabri Ensemble, which is a Birmingham-based group dedicated to exploring the richness of different musical traditions and styles. The Ensemble creates music, taking inspiration from the Indian, Latin American, Afro-Carribean, jazz and Western classical traditions, exploring new sounds and techniques.

Greece is the holiday destination of choice for millions of people who find themselves captivated by this beautiful Mediterranean country's landscapes, coastlines, food, culture and music. But Greek music is more than just the soundtrack to fond holiday memories. Traditional Greek music has it's roots in antiquity, and is the result of influences from the crossroads of southern Europe and Asia. Arc Music's Discover Music From Greece is a 25-track curated collection drawn from it's vast, superb catalog of authentic Greek music in all it's traditional and modern stylistic, instrumental and regional variety. Features music by renowned composers Mikis Theodorakis and Michalis Terzis, as well as a diverse line up of top performers including Glykeria and The Athenians.

ARC Music presents lively and varied music from Scandinavia, from solo singing and fiddle to full band. Scandinavia is the land of auroras, fjords, long winters, and the midnight sun. Like it's surroundings, the traditional music of Scandinavia exudes a feudal charm, enchanting and often mysterious. This collection presents a variety of Scandinavian traditional music, where the differences and similarities can be heard between the music of different regions and countries.

A colorful collection of songs and instrumental pieces from the Spanish speaking countries of the Americas, starting from Mexico to Panama, Costa Rica to Cuba and the Dominican Republic, then Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay, down to Chile and Argentina and back up to Brazil.

Tango Argentina is a beautiful collection of intimate, elegant and sensuous tangos, waltzes and milongas by some of the most glittering names in tango. All are played with style and swagger by Trio Pan tango.

• A collection of Brazilian samba tunes offering a welcome crosscurrent of stimulating and relaxing music. • Varied in style and instrumentation.