Albert Ketèlbey (1875 - 1959) wrote many popular songs and instrumental numbers, some of them miniature tone poems. He specialized in musical representations of differing cultures, highly idealized representations as they fell well within the realm of western music harmony and forms. Ketèlbey could crank out a pretty good tune and he was an imaginative orchestrator, no doubt aided by the tremendous working knowledge he had through his talent for being able to play all the instruments of the orchestra.
In A Persian Market is one of those idealized miniature tone poems. It was written in 1920 and has been played by many orchestras and arranged for many different ensembles. The music speaks through the 'ears' of a English musician known for his works that were written in an intentionally popular style. Authentic Persian (modern day Iran) music it is not, but it has a certain period charm to it.
Ketèlbey's
In A Persian Market:
This small musical jewel brings back so many memories... An innocent young girl dreaming back and hoping for the future...or viceversa... :)
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