Ancient Iraqi rhythms based on Arabian maqams, conveying images of bazaars and mosques in Baghdad and other ancient places. The instruments played are oud (short-necked lute), dombak (single-headed goblet drum), riqq (tambourine), khishba (wooden hour-glass drum) and duff or tar (tambourines).
A rhythm called Sout meaning 'sound; in Mariam Rast. These improvisations with a composed theme are based on an old traditional style. It tells of the return of fishermen and pearl divers at sunset. Instrumental, Middle East, Middle-East
Three very old rhythms joined together, all in same key signature: Keef, Janoubi and Mashi, ornamented with a percussion solo in khashabah, an old dancing style from Basrah City in the south of Iraq. Instrumental, Middle East, Middle-East
This piece is composed with a very old Iraqi rhythm called Gorgena in Mogan) leharga. It conveys the image of ancient bazaars in Baghdad and many other ancient cities. Instrumental, Middle East, Middle-East
This is an original composition by Ahmed Mukhtar. The piece encompasses various different maqams and has a free rhythm. It describes a scene of Iraqi refugees on the ocean in the middle of the night looking for a land to seek refuge in. Instrumental, Middle East, Middle-East
Raqsat al shara Mukhtar's composition depicting an Iraqi wedding at the moment when the bridegroom arrives at the bride's home to accept her from her family. All the guests and relatives from both families are dancing while groom and bride are looking at each other shyly. Instrumental, Middle East, Middle-East
Chopi is an old dance and popular rhythm in Iraq, used by Bedouins and Arab people. It is a composition by Mukhtar based on Maqam Byati and is played in a special way in Iraq. Instrumental, Middle East, Middle-East
Usually a doulab is very slow-paced and uses only four or five of the seven notes of an octave. In this piece Mukhtar presents a modern view of this composition by using all fourteen notes of two octaves and by increasing the tempo to make it more accessible for Western listeners. Instrumental, Middle East, Middle-East
An oud improvisation in Maqam Segah-Hozam in the very ancient Hacha rhythm. This piece describes a slow and sad dance from Amara city in the south of Iraq. Instrumental, Middle East, Middle-East
This is a composition and improvisation by Ahmed Mukhtar based on Maqam Al-kandi. Ahmed found the maqam in a very old book by the great philosopher and musician Al Kandi. The music in a rhythm called simgil-samai depicts the streets and alleys of ancient Baghdad. Instrumental, Middle East, Middle-East
A composition by Mukhtar in Maqam Hijaz-kar in a rhythm called Darj. This very old, almost forgotten playing style of was used in the Abbasid period, brought to Spain by the Arabs who settled there. The music describes the relation between Arabia and Spain. Instrumental, Middle East, Middle-East
