Before discussing the extraordinarily beautiful and uplifting music on Taqasim, a last minute, odds-on favourite for the best of 2006 lists, a little background on the oud, taqasim and oud player ...

The classical musician and composer is often compared to Bob Dylan — not for his music, but for his political songs about freedom and nationalism. Marcel Khalife: The Bob Dylan Of The Arab World ...

I first heard the music of Marcel Khalife, the Lebanese-born oud virtuoso, when a guest host on Morning Becomes Eclectic brought in a bunch of Arab LP’s, including a beguiling song for oud and voice.

For over four decades, Khalife has made music amid political turmoil and social upheaval. His latest album, Andalusia Of Love, is brooding and... Lebanese Composer Marcel Khalife's Urgent Reminder ...