Alcazar

THE ALCAZAR SUITE: 1.SALIDA DEL SOL The sun rises over Andalucia. 2. GUADILQUIVIR From Cordoba to Sevilla and on to the Atlantic the soul and history of Andalucia float on the timeless waters of the River Guadalquivir. 3.ALCAZAR The fortified palaces of Islamic Spain with their beautiful citrus gardens. 4. TRAJE DE LUCES Suit of lights-worn by matadors and in less flamboyant form by some of the old flamencos. After the afternoon siesta and maybe a stroll in the Alcazar gardens the music leads to the bull-ring - the Corrida de Toros! 5. VOICES FROM EXILE When Cordoba was the capital of the Islamic Empire, the Caliph summoned master Oud player Ziryab from Bagdad to entertain at court with his laments. Music will always be a spiritual link to a yearned-for homeland. THE ALCAZAR SUITE is based on the Iraqi lullaby 'Dililoul', sung late into the night,the final phrases of 'Voices From Exile' echo the opening phrases of 'Salida Del Sol' and the cycle begins again....... 6. RECUERDOS DE CORDOBA Night falls on Cordoba, and on the banks of the Guadilquivir, beside the Calahorra tower, young people begin to gather with their instruments. They strike up and an improvised blast of drums horns and pipes echoes over the waters and thunders back from the hard stone walls of the far embankment, and the ghosts and spirits of ancient Cordoba live once more. This album was recorded by Wes McGhee at Glebe Studios . 'Voices From Exile' was used as the title track for a Channel Four film about Iraqi exiles.... Wes used the alias 'Joaquin Romas' to avoid confusion with his usual work.