I am interested in locating an MP3 of the Call to Prayer we heard in
Kuwait. While there for 6 months, we became used to everything
stopping for sporadic periods throughout the day for the Call to
Prayer. During this time, through loud speakers city wide you could
hear men singing to Allah, while Muslim followers knelt on their knees
to pray. Several radio stations played an alternative Call to Prayer
during this time, which was purely instrumental, and did not contain
any chanting, speaking or singing. This version was very classical
sounding, with a slight Arabic twist. Fellow Australians present in
Kuwait told me that this music was from the Lawrence of Arabia
soundtrack, but I am not sure. I am very interested in obtaining an
MP3 of this call to prayer. For the life of me I cannot locate it
using search engines, and I don't know where to look next. I hope you
can help me in my search for this modern, classical Call to Prayer as
played in Kuwait!

Regards,
Rochelleann

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Request for Question Clarification by justaskscott-ga on 15 Jul 2005 21:34 PDT

Would links to streaming broadcasts of the call to prayer (occurring
live, at appropriate times of the day) be a sufficient answer?

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Clarification of Question by rochelleann-ga on 15 Jul 2005 21:49 PDT

Hi Scott

No, I would like it in mp3 format so that I can play it on my ipod. If
this is not possible, I would at least like to know title and artist
so that I might be able to buy the music. In this case, I would like
to know where I can buy it.

Thanks for helping me! :)
Rochelleann

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Request for Question Clarification by tutuzdad-ga on 16 Jul 2005 11:28 PDT

This is not entirely instrumental though it does include some
instruments (and also some birds, if I am not mistaken). Please let me
know if this is the one (or a sufficient one). If its not the one you
are after, at the very least, it is a nice one - and it is in mp3
format.

ISLAMIC CALL TO PRAYER
http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/~ladelia/Music%20files/Music%20of%20World%20Religions/artist%20-%20Islamic%20Call%20to%20Prayer.mp3

tutuzdad-ga

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Clarification of Question by rochelleann-ga on 16 Jul 2005 13:17 PDT

Hi Tutuzdad - thanks for the link to the call to prayer, however it is
not the one I am after. The call to prayer I need does not contain any
vocal... no voices, or calling, chanting etc....just instrumental. I
agree though, it was a nice one. I'm sitting here humming the tune
away, but I can't for the life of me find it anywhere!!!

Rochelle

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Clarification of Question by rochelleann-ga on 16 Jul 2005 13:19 PDT

As mentioned in my comments, the call to prayer is almost 15 minutes
in duration, from what I remember.

Hi rochelleann, 

I?m so glad you?re on the right track now! 

Rather than just copy my comment here, I thought I?d give you a couple
of suggestions for possibly tracking down your song.

Ebay: keep checking here:
http://search.ebay.com/maurice-Jarre_W0QQfkrZ1QQfromZR8
http://search.ebay.co.uk/maurice-jarre_W0QQfkrZ1QQfltZ9QQfromZR8
http://search.ebay.ca/maurice-jarre_W0QQfkrZ1QQfromZR8


itunes: sign up and search their music library for both the album and the song
http://www.apple.com/itunes/store/

Post a message on appropriate message boards, for example
http://www.moviemusic.com/cgi-bin/mb/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum=Movie+Soundtracks&number=1&DaysPrune=20&LastLogin=

Just so you know, I checked Music Match and Bearshare. Not on either one.

Hope you find your song in time! 

Thanks for your question, 

-K~

Awesome answer - extremely helpful! Keep up the good researching!

Hi rochelleann, 

No answer, but perhaps a lead. 

IF your song is being attributed to the Lawrence of Arabia Soundtrack,
then it may be a case of mistaken movie attribution.  Maurice Jarre
wrote the soundtrack to Lawrence of Arabia. He also wrote the
soundtrack to another film, The Message (also known as Mohammad:
Messenger of God).

According to one source: 

?The score [of The Message] is basically developed from two themes,
the primary theme as mentioned above is varied in different
permutations and the other motif is interesting musical variation of
the Azan, the famous Islamic call for prayer (now a cliché in every
Hollywood film showcasing an Islamic element. Interestingly in this
film we see the origin of this call to prayer) . Jarre cleverly
interpolates the tones and develops it into a crusading theme which is
colored in brass and rising triad motives in "The Message".

The piece was performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. 

The Epic Film Music of Maurice Jarre
http://www.filmscorecentral.150m.com/Titles/epicfilmmusic_mauricejarre.html

Wikipedia:  Maurice Jarre 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Jarre

So, the answer would be to get your hands on that soundtrack (or an
audio clip). After a bit of a search, I did find one audio clip but,
unfortunately, the 30 seconds provided gives no clue as to whether or
not this is the song you are looking for.

Amazon uk: Mohammad: Messenger of God [SOUNDTRACK] [IMPORT]
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000DG2K/qid%3D1121734658/202-9572951-0176608

The song and also available on this album, and I think for download
purchase (mp3) from Music Match. (Not sure how their purchase system
works):

Lion of the Desert/The Message by Original Soundtrack
http://www.mmguide.musicmatch.com/album/album.cgi?ALBUMID=1117677


I did a search of mp3s on the P2P service, Bearshare, but did not find
that particular piece by Jarre. There are hundreds of other versions
of the Azan there, but none of the file sizes were large enough to
indicate a 15 minute song. I listened to 4 or 5, but none were without
vocals.

Sorry I couldn?t get you closer. Maybe another researcher can take it from here. 

-K~

Search terms:

Call to prayer
"call to prayer" lawrence Arabia
Lawrence of Arabia soundtrack call to prayer
Music of Maurice Jarre amazon
"The message" soundtrack jarred
azan call  prayer mp3
"+The Message" "Royal Philharmonic Orchestra"

Dear knowledge_seeker

Thank you so much for the extraordinarily helpful information! This
morning, I had also come to the conclusion that the music was from the
film, The Message (following the advice from a friend who emailed me
from Kuwait), and was very grateful to you for providing the links to
places I could listen to Maurice Jarre's scores.

The song, "Message" is not the correct song, but when listening to the
second track on the album "The Epic Film Music of Maurice Jarre", I
was delighted to find that the song "Hegira" was THE ONE! I am so
happy to have found the correct song, but alas....I cannot find
anywhere to buy this album! Everywhere I look, the CD is either
discontinued or out of stock. I am hoping to obtain this CD "The Epic
Film Music of Maurice Jarre" before the end of July, and appreciate
any help that anyone can give me to locate it.

I agree, Music Match is utterly confusing, and I cannot seem to work
out how to join, or how to download music. Particularly since I use a
Mac, and the juke box programs seem to be PC based...

Well - again, thank you SO SO much for helping me - I am well on the
way to finding this song now, so if you would like to put your comment
in the answer field, and will give you a 5 star rating for tracking
down the artist of "Hegira"!

Rochelle

I'm glad you were pleased with my answer rochelleann. Sure hope you
can find a copy of that song! Thank you for the tip.

-K~

YES!!! That is it "Hegira".  I too was stationed in Kuwait (and Iraq)
during 2003 and 2004 and listend to this song, frequently. It's simple
beauty, enjoyed in the amazing sunsets of the Arabian dessert is
enough to cause one to consider converting to Islam...almost. Even on
the more westernized, English pop station coming from Kuwait City they
played this theme 5 times a day. I have been looking for this song for
3 years now! It was surreal to be listening to this song driving
accross Kuwaiti desserts and seeing different Muslims prostrate
themselves in their prayers, especially at sunset.  When the sun would
finally stop it's brutal assualt of the 130 degree heat of day, and
Muslims would be out praying, the air was so still, and this song
seemed almost magical as did the environment.  One of the most
favorable memories I have of my experiences in the middle East, was
this small sample of the culture.

I don't think the song was 15" long, I'd say under 5". I truly enjoyed
this music.  It was also neat to see the Kuwaiti's go on their camping
trips out in the desert, preserving their bedouin heritage and getting
away from the moderinization much in the same way many westerners go
camping.

I have even emailed the radio stations in Kuwait trying to get this
info.  Thanks a bunch to all involved in finding the name of the song.

Hey one more thing. You can get the Radio Kuwait Radio station that we
heard the song Hegira on is Radio Kuwait 99.7 on the internet.  In
fact I just heard the song a second ago, I had the radio station
playing (it is the English Pop station in Kuwait) on the background in
my office, and I heard it playing as I walked by.

The quality isn't the best, only a 64 KBit/Sec Feed.

The feed can be found by going to:
http://www.media.gov.kw/

and then selecting the 99.7 button. This will open up another window
with Windows Media playing a simulcast of the stations actuall FM
broadcast, and you should hear the song 5 times a day....

Capturing the song off the feed could be done, but with the poor
quality, probably not worth it.  I would like to get the CD of the
Movies Soundtrack, but have also been un able to get it. Please let me
know if you find it.

Hi Chris - I have not had any luck as yet...I have a friend looking at
the Virgin store on the Gulf Road for me this weekend to see if he can
find the Epic Film Music of Maurice Jarre...he's going to send me a
copy if he can find it. If I get it, I'll email you an MP3 if you give
me your email address :) Apparently the movie The Message is awesome
too - might be worth renting or purchasing the DVD.

I totally agree - "Hegira" sounded absolutely incredible while driving
in the desert. I was not in the military, but working as an
environmental scientist on Bubiyan and Warba islands in between Kuwait
and Iraq...I was there from October 03 - April 04, and lived in the
suburb of Jabriya. The music "Hegira" was such a beautiful contrast to
the annoying Brittish women hosting the radio station!

I can't wait to hear the song again...
Rochelle

Rochelle,

Belay my last. Track 2 of the CD, The Epic Film Music of Maurice
Jarre, called "Hegira" is not the track used on the Kuwait Super
Station as their call to prayer. I just got the CD in the mail today
from England (only took like 7 days, it was amazingly quick, from the
UK Amazon website via a used seller to here in Pennsylvania US). 
However I beleive the song is actually track 12 on that same CD, and
it is titled "The Faith of Islam".

You do hear the same themes in several of the tracks, and in the
albums pamphlet it even quotes Jarre as saying in The Message score
(and a previous repsonder mentioned this too) "There are two main
themes- a variation of the Call of the Muezzin (who summons the
Moslems to prayer at the mosque) and totally original music".  So I
think Hegira has this variation fo the Call of the Muezzin with that
same basic tune in it, but I thought I was robbed when I listened to
the Hegira, as the tune didn't have the same climatic ending to it,
just that theme repeating a few times.

So after looking around on the internet and letting the CD Play on in
the background, it finally came to Track 12 "The Faith of Islam" which
sounds much more like I remembered, I am pretty convinced that's the
actual track used. I am not sure if this is a classical Arab Muezzin
which Jarre adapted, or to what degree "The Faith of Islam" may have
been adapted from an original orchestration.

Yeah I put "The Message" in my Netflix Que. (I don't know if they have
a similar service in Australia, it's basically an online DVD rental
store, where you pick through massive lists of movies, select the ones
you would like to see, and they mail them to you, you watch, then mail
them back. If Australia doesn't have one, might be a good business
start up idea....it's working here pretty well, postage is cheap, and
internet technology is well suited for such a setup.

You can send me an email with your addres to
Christoher_Quimby@hotmail.com and I can see about sending you sample.

Yeah I forgot about the British Female commentators. It is funny
because I actually liked listening to the British morning show, and
the DJ lady with the British accent, but one of my buddies was saying
how annoying they were to him too. I just liked listening to a
carefree broadcast after coming back from Iraq and having no media,
and everything being so bloody, & stressful. It was interesting to
hear peaceful, carefree banter on the radio, admittedly it wasn't too
high brow...

Ehab Tawfic's Tetrega Fea is a modern Lyrical Arab track you might
like too (it's a love song album Habib el Alb). Very unique, soulful,
and powerfully reminiscent of the very unique culture.

Hi chris - I sent you an email, did you receive it?
Rochelle

I'm in Kuwait right now and it always seemed like this music came on
when I was driving through a remote desert area on the way to a
military base.  I referred to as the theme song of Kuwait.  Of course
after a few weeks we became aware of its ties to prayer times.  It's
an awesome piece of music.  I wish it were in an MP3 somewhere.

I agree about the irritating Brit Chick who is the radio jockey -
yuck.  It's also very weird to hear this beautiful music and then it's
followed by some crappy rap or pop rock music.

Cheers - DM