Simon Shaheen in Brooklyn on Oct. 29

Simon Shaheen plays a concert celebrating the historical connection between Arab political identity and musicians, composers, and writers in their respective countries.  Don't miss this important event taking place during this pivotal time.  Tickets are available from the Wold Music Institute: http://www.wminyc.org.

Class Music: "Claude Chalhoub" by Claude Chalhoub

We used Claude Chalhoub's version of Erik Satie's classic "Gnossienne #1" this last week for a cool down in Level 2 and one of you students came up and immediately asked for album info., which always happens when I use this track a first time.  Classical music players and fans often know who Erik Satie is (French pianist and composer) but know less about Chalhoub, a younger violinst originally from Beirut and composer who only has one recording from what I can tell "Claude Chalhoub" but has worked and studied in London and worked with conductor Daniel Barenboim in his "West-Eastern Divani."  He also, according Wikipedia, plays Arab folk music.
Unfortunately, the only album I found on Amazon was $60.  Here is the YouTube version of "Gnossienne":

Class Music: "Belly Dance Classics with Fifi Abdo"

Belly Dance Classics with Fifi Abdo, featuring the Cairo Orchestra, is invaluable to dancers at all levels.  Many of these songs (such as "Sallam Allay," "Zikrayat," and "Ghannali Shawayyi, Shawayyi") comprise the standard belly dance repertoire.  The only downside is some of the drum tracks sound "electronically enhanced" (aka drum machine).  We're using Tabla of Said for our Level II class at NYU.  Practice!  Enjoy!  Also, check out Fifi Abdo on a previous link in Orientalish.

Schiff's "Cleopatra" on WNYC FM

Leonard Lopate's Book Club features a discussion with biographer Stacy Schiff on her book, Cleopatra: A Life. She'll discuss her bestselling work on Oct. 31, 2011 at 8 a.m.  (Yes, 8 a.m.  Plan ahead.)

The Rosetta Stone on "Entitled Opinions"

I love the podcasts on Stanford University's  "Entitled Opinions" and get hours of mileage on the elliptical fitness machine thanks to ever smart and intriguing host Robert Harrison and his astounding cadre of guests (look up Blair Huxby on Aristotle's "Poetics," Rush Rehm on Greek tragedy, a two-part session on Beethoven, Epicureanism, or "Romanticism and Organic Form").  The October 12, 2011 episode featured Patrick Hunt on the Rosetta Stone. Politics, ownership, power, Empire, lust, classic Orientalish.   Listen to all podcasts for free at: http://www.stanford.edu/dept/fren-ital/opinions/