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Best Muslim Religious & Sacred Music

The Mysticism of Sound and Music: The Sufi Teaching of Hazrat Inayat Khan (Shambhala Dragon Editions)
Music, according to Sufi teaching, is really a small expression of the overwhelming and perfect harmony of the whole universe—and that is the secret of its amazing power to move us. "Inayat Khan brought one of the strongest and sweetest lineages from India to the West: the music and open heart of Sufism as it blends with Persian poetry and Western intellect. Music, according to Sufi teaching, is really a small expression of the overwhelming and perfect harmony of the whole universe - and that is the secret of its amazing power to move us.
Reviews
"Certainly an amazing company, they sent a sweet gift with my order which was beloved for the synchronization!"
"Mindblowing artful metaphor about subjects impossible to be written or spoken about, subjects which can only experienced for oneself to get close to the truth of reality."
"A master book about the influence of vibrations (music) in our life, the meaning of love in our heart and how we are all connected to everything."
"excellent book & prompt delivery & item as described; complete satisfaction."
"This man has something to share with musicians, poets, and music lovers."
"It's good for a present to people who are interested in the subject."
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The Tawasin of Mansur al-Hallaj: A Mystical Sufi Treatise Interpreted in Poetry (Voices of World Religions)
This is the extreme of humility and self-abasement.”�. Jabez L. Van Cleef takes foundational texts from many oral traditions and religions and creates a common poetic format to preserve, promote and disseminate the values of these cultures. Jabez L. Van Cleef takes foundational texts from many oral traditions and religions and creates a common poetic format to preserve, promote and disseminate the values of these cultures.
Reviews
"Very impressed with the translation of this into english and hope that readers who are interested in the esoteric aspects of islam give this text a reading.However that being saidt is not a text to begin with.ENJOY."
"The goal, God willing, in turn is to be inspired and motivated to seek success in a journey of personal development."
"not very difficult to understand, if you like Sufi books or Bektashi books."
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Rock & Roll Jihad: A Muslim Rock Star's Revolution
He finished medical school, met his soul mate, and watched his beloved funkytown of Lahore transform with the rest of Pakistan under the rule of Zia into a fundamentalist dictatorship: morality police arrested couples holding hands in public, Little House on the Prairie and Live Aid were banned from television broadcasts, and Kalashnikovs and rocket launchers proliferated on college campuses via the Afghani resistance to Soviet occupation in the north. He started a traveling guitar club that met in private Lahore spaces, mixing Urdu love poems with Casio synthesizers, tablas with Fender Stratocasters, and ragas with power chords, eventually joining his first pop band, Vital Signs. Ahmad is at his best describing the mishmash of 1960s American rock, '80s pop songs and Bollywood music that made up the repertoires of Pakistan's youth musicians in that same decade. In what is well-intentioned but ultimately clichéd and egocentric memoir, Ahmad describes his more recent years as a self-appointed musical ambassador for peace, standing up for Muslims on Bill Maher's TV show and playing a concert at the U.N. General Assembly Hall, while still finding time to show Mick Jagger the Pakistani nightlife. As a teenager living in a New York City suburb, he fell in love with rock, dreamed of playing guitar in a band, and though his parents looked down upon what they thought was a ridiculous fantasy, determined to wage “a rock and roll jihad.” He formed bands in both America and Pakistan, eventually transforming himself into a Pakistani national icon.
Reviews
"An author who sought inspiration from some musical icons in not just the west, but the east created a unique blend of music - which soon became his trademark signature style proved that by doing so he could transcend beyond music and bridge the opposites; be it culture, traditions, religions, nations or races. Salman engages in challenging spiritual, mental and physical journeys to distinguish the true side of Islam (a religion which literally means peace), from the side that was created as a result of the perception of a religion that was hijacked on Sept 11th 2009 by fanatics and hate mongers."
"Evidence of this change exists in our friend Salman Ahmad, a Pakistan-born Sufi Muslim rock star, who has sold more than 30 million albums with his band Junoon, which the New York Times called, "the U2 of South Asia". In mid-January, Salman released his autobiography, Rock & Roll Jihad, published by Simon and Schuster, a well-written and enjoyable book which I, Deepak, had the pleasure and privilege to write the back cover notes for. The first concert Salman held inside that prestigious world body was on UN Day in late October 2001, barely six weeks after the tragedy of September 11th. We had Ramadan dates, shalwar kameez and sari clad women, Jews and Muslims in skull caps, diplomats doing the Bhangra and a mini planet Earth of college students, plus Roger Federer and Gwen Stefani." In 2007, Salman performed at the Nobel Peace Prize concert the year Al Gore won for his work on global climate change. This was when he met Melissa Etheridge, and shortly thereafter they collaborated on the wonderful song "Ring the Bells" which I, Deepak, had the pleasure of introducing a performance of at the eighth annual Muslim Public Affairs Council in Los Angeles in December 2008. The line came as a result of seeing so much poverty on both sides of the border, but instead of focusing on food and education, the governments of India and Pakistan exploded numerous underground nuclear bombs in a short period of time. He wrote a song called "Al Vida", which appears on his 2006 solo album Infiniti, which is about a woman named Shukriya Gul, whose story inspired him. It is Salman's anthem for peace in which perhaps the most power line, especially the way Ali sings it, seems to be directed at Muslim youth: "Hold on, keep yourself alive, we will survive," but also applies to us all. This incident is retold in Rock & Roll Jihad, where Salman explains many other influences and experiences which led him to a life of uplifting music and dedication to peace and humanity. One must read the book to find out, but it all began with a concert at Madison Square Garden that he had to convince his mother he would not become "eaten alive in this hedonistic world of sex, drugs and rock and roll". Salman writes with terrific skill which makes the reader agonize with him as he goes through the torturous process of winning the heart and hand of his soul mate, his lovely wife, Samina. One can almost feel the hand of god guiding him and clearing the way for this remarkable man to establish himself and his mission for peace and commonality through music and diplomacy. To counter their tactics and in time triumph over extremists in all religions without having to fight, we as humanity must embrace each other and follow the direction that people like Salman, John Lennon and others have shown us. What gives one hope is to imagine the present positive change exponentially thirty years from now when the arts and technology will have enabled eastern and western youth to come together over music and sports and pop culture in greater ways, leading to economic cooperation and co-dependence which will bring about a more stable and perhaps permanent peace. With this positive imagining means we also need a realistic assessment of war, pandemic disease, famine and climate change thirty years from now and beyond so that those Salman continues to inspire to do good toward each other in the east and west will be fully aware of the challenges they face and may seek guidance and counsel from the experiences of those who came before them, such as the challenges Salman faced, with god's help, which he describes so well in Rock & Roll Jihad."
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Best Islamic Music

The Mysticism of Sound and Music: The Sufi Teaching of Hazrat Inayat Khan (Shambhala Dragon Editions)
Music, according to Sufi teaching, is really a small expression of the overwhelming and perfect harmony of the whole universe—and that is the secret of its amazing power to move us. "Inayat Khan brought one of the strongest and sweetest lineages from India to the West: the music and open heart of Sufism as it blends with Persian poetry and Western intellect. Music, according to Sufi teaching, is really a small expression of the overwhelming and perfect harmony of the whole universe - and that is the secret of its amazing power to move us.
Reviews
"Certainly an amazing company, they sent a sweet gift with my order which was beloved for the synchronization!"
"Mindblowing artful metaphor about subjects impossible to be written or spoken about, subjects which can only experienced for oneself to get close to the truth of reality."
"A master book about the influence of vibrations (music) in our life, the meaning of love in our heart and how we are all connected to everything."
"excellent book & prompt delivery & item as described; complete satisfaction."
"This man has something to share with musicians, poets, and music lovers."
"It's good for a present to people who are interested in the subject."
Find Best Price at Amazon

Best Gospel Religious & Sacred Music

Tonal Harmony
The straightforward approach is supported by well-chosen examples and thoughtful exercises, and the total presentation is compatible with differing teaching styles and theoretical points of view. Dr. Kostka initiated courses in computer applications in music at both the Eastman School and the University of Texas. Dr. Kostka is active in various professional organizations and is a past president of the Texas Society for Music Theory. Dorothy presented lectures and workshops on theory pedagogy at meetings of professional societies and served the National Association of Schools of Music as a visiting evaluator, member of the Accreditation Commission, and Secretary of the Executive Committee.
Reviews
"When I learned to play trumpet way back in Jr. High I was never taught anything but how to read sheet music and keeping beat so now that I am expanding my musical abilities I found an instructor that would accompany my piano lessons with college level music theory."
"Perfect book."
"When pared with the workbook you can pretty much teach yourself all about music theory."
"Great text book."
"Love the details..."
"This book explains things clearly and consicely, and there are many visual examples following text on definitions."
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Best Jewish Religious & Sacred Music

Violins of Hope: Violins of the Holocaust-Instruments of Hope and Liberation in Mankind's Darkest Hour
A stirring testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of music, Violins of Hope tells the remarkable stories of violins played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust, and the Israeli violin maker dedicated to bringing these inspirational instruments back to life. This captivating work vividly illustrates Jewish courage and resistance through tracing the journeys of seven violins and the triumphs and struggles of the musicians who played them between 1939 and 1945." More than a mere history of an instrument, the book shows how music can entertain, soothe and even save lives, proving that even in mankind's darkest hour: 'Wherever there were violins, there was hope.'". A stirring testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of music, Violins of Hope tells the remarkable stories of violins played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust and of the Israeli violinmaker dedicated to bringing these inspirational instruments back to life. In this spirit, renowned Israeli violinmaker Amnon Weinstein has devoted the past twenty years to restoring the violins of the Holocaust as a tribute to those who were lost, including four hundred of his own relatives.
Reviews
"The musicians felt bad that they had to play music for such awful circumstance, but they had to play for their own lives."
"I have read many books that deal with the Holocaust but I was unaware that there were "instruments of hope and liberation in mankind's darkest hour.""
"What I had been expecting from the book was more of a story about the violins being restored, more of the technical aspect I would say."
"Not a book for the luthier or would be luthier."
"Humans survive in inhumane situations often imbuing some thing reminiscent of, or hopeful of better times as a symbol of faith in the future and. resistance to the present."
"Another story of the survival of the humans spirit against all odds."
"This was a very interesting side of the holocaust that I had never heard of before."
"What a story."
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Best Hymns Religious & Sacred Music

Lutheran Service Book: Pew Edition
Content includes: · Five Divine Services. · Morning Prayer. · Evening Prayer. · Matins. · Vespers. · Family devotions. · Luther’s Small Catechism. · 150 psalms. · 636 hymns, songs, and canticles.
Reviews
"I am so glad that something got worked out, although the fonts in the print version are different than the ebook version and the readability of the hymns is very dependant on screen size."
"The LSB is a wonderful book for Lutherans to use at church, at home with their families, or for personal study."
"The Kindle edition is a bit clunky, especially if your device is a small handheld."
"After more experimentation, I found the contents side bar off the left of the screen, so a quick swipe brings it up and I can scan sections for the song or order of service I need - much better!"
"These are used in our Church, I wanted a home copy."
"This is a terrific resource with one important shortcoming: it doesn't have real page numbers set up, so you're limited to working with Kindle "Locations.""
"First, The Lutheran Service Book is a lovely hymnal and I've been waiting for the Kindle version to come out ever since I purchased the pew edition for home use."
"Digital edition."
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Best Christian Religious & Sacred Music

Then Sings My Soul Special Edition
Stories of the most favorite and beloved seasonal hymns of faith. Rob Morgan is the pastor of The Donelson Fellowship in Nashville, Tennessee, where he has served for more than thirty years.
Reviews
"As I searched for a downloadable read, I came across this book."
"My wife, the musician will love it for Christmas."
"enjoying these songs and writings about them."
"So interesting to read and contemplate while singing the tunes in my mind."
"Great product, very happy with my purchase."
"Great Book, I have given this as a gift many times to people in Music Ministry."
"HERE’S WHY: The words and music are presented as sheet music, but each line is a separate image. If I enlarge the first line of words and music so I can read them in Kindle on my iPad mini, when I get to the end of the line I must then close that image and go through the process of enlarging the next line."
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