Quote Originally Posted by Auricauricle
[I]Yes, quotation marks....I use them because, if there is anything that listening to music has taught me, if there is any universal language it is music. Listen to any strain: Be it Baroque or Bedouin, somehow one can always discern in the strains influences and references from all over the globe, when you open your ears. Tchaikovsky and Rimsky Korsakov took material from the ME; country music today is descended from folk-song of Scotland, Ireland and Norway; Dvorak used Negro spirituals and on and on.
I actually have Hourani's book in my bookcase, but never read it. Maybe I should.

Yes, classical music has long been tied to Middle Eastern and other foreign influences, perhaps unbeknown to most people of European descent. Maybe it's that whole Black Athena engendered aversion, but it bears repeating. I also think it's important to realize how much cross-pollination there is in pop music nowadays. Not only with popular artists (Shakira and Sting) but also in new trends such as the mixing of Raggaeton with Arabic themes. And even in Jazz there is a whole new wave of artists, mostly originating in Europe (who would have thought) who are reviving the Third Stream movement from the late 50s, merging European classical foundations into new contemporary jazz composition.

Come to think of it, here's a thought for the next book: Jazz Islam. On the front cover you could have a Mujahababe wearing a Billy Childs t-shirt, LOL.

Come to think of it, the fusion of jazz with Arabic music would probably be very pleasing. Or is there such a thing already? If there is, I'd like to hear some of it.