Trouble in Jerusalem

Marktoberdorf, Germany is an album by the Lebanese oud player and composer Rabih Abou-Khalil, conceived as a soundtrack to the 1922 German silent film Nathan the Wise, which was recorded in Germany in 2009 and released on the Enja label the following year.[1]

Trouble in Jerusalem
Studio album by
Released2010
RecordedOctober 18–23, 2009
StudioMarktoberdorf, Germany
GenreJazz, World music, Contemporary classical music
Length59:28
LabelEnja
ENJ 9560
ProducerRabih Abou-Khalil, Walter Quintus
Rabih Abou-Khalil chronology
Em Português
(2008)
Trouble in Jerusalem
(2010)
Hungry People
(2012)

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Guardian[2]

The Allmusic review by V. Vasan stated "This album, unfortunately, is not so exciting and does not live up to its potential. Played by the German Youth Orchestra (BJO) along with composer Rabih Abou-Khalil on the oud and two other soloists, the music seems to neither move nor be adequately programmatic. ... overall, the music does not come alive due to the combination of the music itself (with a heavy use of unisons, even taking cultural differences into account) and an orchestra that is not experienced enough to give the music more shape. ... Trouble in Jerusalem just does not make for an inviting musical experience".[3]

In The Guardian, John Fordham wrote "Typical Abou-Khalil themes mingle European folk melodies and Arab rhythms, but, aside from the tailchasing motifs on "Once Upon a Dervish" (which sounds like an Elmer Bernstein western score for a Middle-Eastern rhythm section), much of the ensemble music sounds portentous, and the composer's usual exuberant spontaneity, surrealism and political wit seem overwhelmed by great-and-good obligations".[2]

Track listing

All compositions by Rabih Abou-Khalil

  1. "Jerusalem" – 8:50
  2. "Lament" – 10:24
  3. "Jerusalemme Liberata" – 12:08
  4. "Once Upon a Dervish" – 12:07
  5. "Saladin and Nathan the Wise" – 7:29
  6. "A Prayer for Tolerance" – 2:19

Personnel

References

  1. Rabih Abou-Khalil discography accessed June 21, 2018
  2. Fordham, J. The Guardian Review accessed June 21, 2018
  3. Vasan, V.. Rabih Abou-Khalil: Trouble in Jerusalem – Review at AllMusic. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
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