Farida - Sun of Iraq: New Iraqi Poetry

Farida was born in 1963 in Iraq, where she studied at the Musical Studies Institute and with the famous ud player Munir Bashir. He encouraged her to start singing maqams. She also studied with Mohammad Gomar, who is now her companion and leader of the Iraqi Maqam Ensemble.'Sun'of Iraq' is the new album by Farida and the Iraqi Maqam Ensemble and their 4th release on the Papyros label. In the tradition of original maqam Mohammad Gomar has composed new music to contemporary Iraqi poetry. This has resulted in five new compositions, which are performed in a magnificent way by this extraordinary singer.The versatile accompagniment on jozze, qanun, ud and other instruments supports the splendid voice, that excels in the maqam singing style, full of microtonality and ornamentations. Highly recommended!