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THE SECOND BAGHDAD — Rahim AlHaj / oud
1. The Second Baghdad (Baghdad AlThania)
My teacher, Munir Bashir, wrote a composition entitled Baghdad when it was a beautiful thriving city. During the Gulf War, bombs and missiles leveled numerous buildings and nearly every bridge that unites Baghdad across its two rivers. My city changed so much that I barely recognized her. This is the Baghdad of my composition.
2. Dance of the Palms (Ruqsat AlNakeel)
My country is full of date palm trees. We consider them to be sacred. During both the war with Iran and the Gulf War, gunfire wounded and killed many palms. When the gunfire ceased, I imagined they danced joyously.
3. Dream (Helum)
Our dreams are windows into the truth that dwells inside each of us. This composition is about the desire we have for touching that truth.
4. Sunset of the City (Guroob AlMedina)
This is the story of lovers from my neighborhood in Baghdad. Since a romantic relationship between unmarried couples is not possible, this couple meets secretly outside the city. The young man goes to war and dies. This composition expresses the young woman's feelings for him and for the place where they used to meet.
5. Childhood (Tafula)
In December 2000, I had the pleasure of meeting Kathy Kelly, founder of Voices in the Wilderness, a campaign to end the US/UK led sanctions against the people of Iraq. She had just returned from Basra, in southern Iraq, with stories and pictures depicting the inhumanity of sanctions. This meeting inspired me to compose this piece. Iraqi children are deprived of their childhoods and live their lives without hope.
6. Missing (Showak)
It has been ten years now since I left my home, Iraq. This composition is about that feeling of missing the people and places that hold such dear memories for us.
7. Yearning (Haneen)
8. Ehnanah
This is the story of Ehnanah and Demuzi. An abbreviated version of the story is that Ehnanah loves Demuzi, but the other gods put Demuzi to a test. They confine Demuzi under the Earth. Ehnanah devises a plan to save him. Ultimately, the plan succeeds and they marry.
9. Horses (Khaiyul)
Horses are beautiful, powerful, and strong. Sometimes I find myself like a horse, eager to run somewhere, anywhere to taste my freedom.
All compositions © 2002 Rahim AlHaj
All performances recorded in one take at
Magnetic Fields, Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 2001
Mastered: Manny Rettinger
Cover Artwork: Wafaa Balil
Design: J.B. Bryan & Alan Liddel
Calligraphy: Adel Ibrahim
rahmalhajj@aol.com
| Dance of the Palms (Ruqsat AlNakeel) | 6:56 | |
| Dream (Helum) | 7:39 | |
| Sunset of the City (Guroob AlMedina) | 5:26 | |
| Childhood (Tafula) | 3:41 | |
| Missing (Showak) | 7:37 | |
| Yearning (Haneen) | 5:19 | |
| Ehnanah | 4:34 | |
| Horses (Khaiyul) | 2:35 |