Taqsim (pl. Taqasim)

This recording presents traditional instrumental solo improvisations performed by Arab and Jewish musicians in Israel. All but one of the taqasim (=pl. form of taqsim, the genre of Middle Eastern instrumental improvisation) are in mainstream urban style, a pan-Middle Eastern style that owes its existence largely to Egyptian musical trends and the Arabic mass media. The cassette is accompanied by a booklet with program notes in Hebrew, Arabic, and English.