Gems of the Middle East CD's
These CD's feature Mimi Spencer on qanun (zither) and voice, and Mary Ellen Donald on doumbec and tambourine.  An often recorded instrumentalist, Mimi Spencer made her singing debut as a recorded vocalist in the Gems series, singing in five Middle Eastern languages.

The Gems CD's reflect the rich musical partnership that had developed between Mimi and Mary Ellen as they performed together for over 20 years.  Each CD contains 15 pieces with an ample supply of entrance pieces, slow pieces, drum solos, tip music, and finale music.  The drum solos are hot, uniquely constructed, very danceable, and a perfect length with deep resonant sounds of the djembe bringing to them an African flavor.

Good News for Belly Dancers!
With the use of readily available duplicating technology, you can piece together selections from the Gems CD's in a wide variety of combinations creating all kinds of new dance routines of your choice.  The timing for each piece is noted to help you fulfill the timing needs of your performances.  The advantage of making dance routines with pieces from the Gems CD's is continuity of music, the same band, not a hodgepodge of 3 or 4 different bands thrown together.

Praise for the Gems CD's:

    "This is the best recording of Middle Eastern music I've ever heard, so balanced and clear."
 - Abdallah Kdouh, oudist and singer.

    "Great; that's how the tambourine ought to sound on a recording."
 - Tony Lammam, drummer and tambourinist.

Gems of the Middle East: Belly Dance Favorites from Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, and Greece
(released on cassettes, 1999; remastered and issued on CD's, 2002)

Gems of the Middle East CD Volume I CD US $18.00	To hear a song sample, click on Listen   1. Saba Samir 2:40     2. Lailet Hob 6:17     3. Hebbina 3:34     4. Al-Henna 3:28     5. Norits Karoon Yegav 3:50 Listen  Listen  6 'Azizah 3:08     7. Al-'Ataba Ghazzaz 2:02     8. Toutah 4:14     9. Alf Lailah wa Lailah 6:03     10. Hijaz Baladi 1:34     11. Ya Sitti Ya Khityarah 1:12     12. Ahwak 4:33     13. Hani 4:47 Listen  Listen  14. Hijaz Finale 0.40     15. Nibtidi Mneen al-Hikaya 3:21     16. Bint al-Balad 3:16     17. Hagala Drum Solo 3:04 Listen  Listen
Gems of the Middle East CD Volume II CD US $18.00	To hear a song sample, click on Listen   1. Tamrihinna 3:25     2. Laili Ya Layali 7:22     3. Cleopatra 3:01     4. Mazamir 4:08 Listen  Listen  5. Spectacular Rhythms Finale 0:40     6 Ya Reem Wadi Thaqif 3:23     7. Tafta Hindi 0:34     8. Raghizi Apopse I Kardhia 4:00 Listen  Listen  9. Rampi Rampi 2:14     10. Erev Shel Shoshanim 3:46     11. Ya Dala' Dalla'" 6:53     12. Akhud Habibi D'Ana Yamma 3:07     13. Chapkin Chapkin 3:30     14. Sahara City 5:16     15. Chifte-telli Taqsim with Question-Answer Baladi Change 3:03     16. Fakkaruni Finale 0:50     17. Sabroso Drum Solo 3:11 Listen  Listen
Gems of the Middle East CD Volume III CD US $18.00	To hear a song sample, click on Listen   1. Sawwah  8:47   2. Medley (arranged by Jazayer) Anta 'Omri - La Guardienne des Cles - Ya 'Ain Munayyati - Al-'Elbi Ya'shaq Kulli Gameel 13:34   3:52   2:24   3:44   3:34 Listen  Listen  3. Kapetanaki/Sala Sala   6:40   4. Princess of Cairo   4:00   5. Wa D'Ana   5:52   6 Longa Riyadh 3:24   7. Andah 'Alaik 7:54   8. Me Bounatses ke Boforia 2:57   9. Mavi Mavi 3:00 Listen  Listen  10. Libi Drum Solo 2:10

Why you should get the books along with the Gems CD's.

Dancers, your performance can be more powerful if you know the rhythm changes in your music.  Drummers, it is so important to understand the rhythmical structure of the music so that you can play it with authority.  Instrumentalists, your melodies will come alive if you know what rhythms support them.

Gems of the Middle East Books:  A Rhythmical Analysis (1999)
All books in this series are spiral-bound with protective laminated covers, 8 ˝ by 11 inches.

In the Gems books, Mary Ellen makes a ground-breaking contribution to Middle Eastern music education by presenting a complete rhythmical analysis for each piece on the corresponding CD's with numerous musical transcriptions of the fancy patterns actually performed on the CD's.

To learn how to play the rhythms mentioned in the rhythmical analysis in the Gems books, we recommend the Middle Eastern Rhythms CD's.  On these CD's, Mary Ellen plays each rhythm for 4-5 minutes on doumbec and tambourine.  We invite you to visit CD's Designed for Extended Practice, where the Middle Eastern Rhythms CD's and Practice Music For Drummers and Dancers are described.

	Volume I This book includes the rhythmical analyses of all the pieces on Volume I of the Gems CD's.  In addition, there is a 25 page autobiographical sketch where Mary Ellen speaks of her blindness, her battles with cancer, her personal, professional, and spiritual life from childhood through December of 1998.  It’s guaranteed to make you laugh and touch your heart. 70 pages, US $25.00 Sample Page from Volume I (pdf file)
	Volume 2 This book includes the rhythmical analyses of all the pieces on Volume II of the Gems CD's. 42 pages, US $20.00
	Volume 3 This book includes the rhythmical analyses of all the pieces on Volume III of the Gems CD's. 36 pages, US $20.00

To learn how to play the rhythms mentioned in the rhythmical analysis in the Gems books, we recommend the Middle Eastern Rhythms CD's.

For books and CD's in which Mary Ellen gives in-depth presentations on the playing of doumbec, tambourine, tar, and cymbals we invite you to visit Instructional Materials for Doumbec, Tambourine, Tar, Cymbals & Belly Dance.

Tracks 1, 2 and 3 features Mary Ellen Donald on doumbec and tambourine, Yoko Abe on violin and viola, and various Egyptian musicians who traveled to San Francisco to perform with the King Tut Exhibit in 1979.  They are Magdy Helmy on nay (cane flute) and mizmar (reed instrument), Yusef Mostafa on doumbec, and Galal Ktob on tambourine, duff, and mazhar.

Tracks 4, 5 and 6 features Mary Ellen Donald on doumbec, tambourine, and cymbals, Michael Gruber on woodwinds and metal drum, and George Mundy on bass guitar.