Dan:
As usual we wanted to do something a little different. A few months ago I started with an idea for a song in 7/4 time. I have written a number of songs using various time signatures (as well as a couple utilizing multiple Time signatures). It was hard to play in 7/4 time I kept wanting to add the 8th beat and make it 8/4. With some work I finally felt the rhythm. Dick added some parts that helped get it all smooth.
As usual we did a little research to get a theme for this song. We found that 7/4 time is common in Middle Eastern music. We did some more research to identify a singer that could help create the Middle Eastern flavor we desired. Here is a link to the video:
youtu.be/Kjbb9D3U_aY
We were lucky to find Hossein Ragheb. We sent him the song and he agreed to participate in the project. The result are the excellent Farsi vocals on this song. I hope you enjoy this addition to the Songs of the Sea as much as we do.
Sinbad & the Whale
Sindbad and the whale started out as Dan floated the idea to use a different time signature: 7/4 and a Middle Eastern
feel. Off course we then quickly arrived at the legendary Sindbad from the Thousand and one nights fairytales.
هزار و یک شب / Hezar-o-yek shab
In our version Sindbad comes to an island, but discovers that it is actually a whale.
ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/b/burton/rich…ml#section714
The Book of
The Thousand Nights and a Night
Translated by Richard F. Burton -1885
Here are the lyrics in Farsi (Persian) which Hossein has written based on the story:
دوباره سندباد
به دریا میره
سفر در کشتی
از این جزیره
به اون جزیره
تا میرسه به
جزیره ای که
آروم نداره
آروم نداره
چه وقت خوابه
نهنگ بیداره
به قایق برگرد
وقت فراره
Here is a translation of the Farsi lyrics:
Sinbad, once again,
Goes to the ocean
Travelling on a Ship
From this island
To that island
Until he arrives
On this odd island
Which is not still
Which is not still
It's not time to sleep
The whale is awake
Go back to the boat
It's time to escape