Middle Eastern music

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Umm Kulthum

The various nations of the region include the

Assyrian music, Coptic ritual music in Egypt as well as other genres of Egyptian music in general. It is widely regarded that some Middle-Eastern musical styles have influenced Central Asia, as well as the Balkans and Spain
.

Throughout the region, religion has been a common factor in uniting peoples of different languages, cultures and nations. The predominance of Islam allowed a great deal of

dastgah of Persian music. While this originates with classical music, the modal system has filtered down into folk, liturgical and even popular music, with influence from the West. Unlike much western music, Arabic music includes quarter tones halfway between notes, often through the use of stringed instruments (like the oud) or the human voice. Further distinguishing characteristics of Middle Eastern and North African music include very complex rhythmic structures, generally tense vocal tone, and a monophonic texture. Traditional Middle Eastern music does not use chords, or harmony
in the Western sense.

Often, more traditional Middle-Eastern music can last from one to three hours in length, building up to anxiously awaited, and much applauded climaxes, or tarab, derived from the

Arabic term طرب tarraba.[2]

Instruments used

Strings

Many instruments originate in the

Adam. This is stated by Al-Farabi, and it is part of the Iraqi folklore relating to the instrument. Legend goes on to suggest that the first oud was inspired by the shape of his son's bleached skeleton.[3]

Historically, the oldest pictorial record of the oud dates back to the Uruk period in Southern Mesopotamia over 5000 years ago. It is on a cylinder seal currently housed at the British Museum and acquired by Dr. Dominique Collon,[4] Editor of Iraq at the British Institute for the Study of Iraq.[4]

Used mostly in court music for royals and the rich, the harp also comes from ancient Egypt c. 3500 BC.[5]

The widespread use of the oud led to many variations on the instrument, including the

saz
, a Turkish long-necked lute that remains very popular in Turkey.

Another popular string instrument is the

Abbasids era. Legend has it that Farabi played qanoun in court and alternately made people laugh, cry, or fall asleep. The qanoun developed out of string instruments described in inscriptions that date to the Assyrian period.[6]
It has about 26 triple-string courses, plucked with a piece of horn. The musician has the freedom to alter the pitch of individual courses from a quarter to a whole step by adjusting metal levers.

Middle Eastern music also makes use of the violin, which is European in origin. The violin was adopted into Middle Eastern music in the 19th century, and it is able to produce non-Western scales that include quarter-tones because it is fretless.[7]

Percussion

Percussion instruments play a very important role in Middle Eastern music. The complex

sticks, clappers, and other drums
.

An instrument native to Egypt, the darbuka (both "tabla" and "darbuka" are its names in Egyptian Arabic), is a drum made of ceramic clay, with a goatskin head glued to the body. The darbuka is used primarily in Egypt, and it has its roots in ancient Egypt. It is also used in other countries in the Middle East.

Winds

The

Moroccan oboe, also called the rhaita, has a double-reed mouthpiece that echoes sound down its long and narrow body. A similar instrument is called the sorna. Equivalent to the mizmar and zurna, it is used more for festivals and loud celebrations. A Turkish influence comes from the mey, which has a large double reed. Bamboo reed pipes are the most common background to belly dancing and music from Egypt. Flutes are also a common woodwind instrument in ensembles. A kaval is a three-part flute that is blown in one end, whereas the ney
is a long cane flute, played by blowing across the sharp edge while pursing the lips.

International music

Lebanese singer-songwriter Lydia Canaan performing at MTV Global concert in Beirut, Lebanon, 2000

Music pervades Middle Eastern societies.

fusion are rapidly advancing in popularity.[9]
Lebanese singer-songwriter and diplomat
microtones with anglophone rock, innovating a unique style of world music.[16]

Common genres

Geographical varieties of the music in the Arabic-speaking regions of the Middle East

Geographical varieties of non-Arabic Middle Eastern music

References

  1. doi:10.2307/
  2. ^ Pappé, I. The Modern Middle East, (London, 2005), p. 166-171.
  3. Grove Music Online
    )
  4. ^ a b British Institute for the Study of Iraq, "British Institute for the Study of Iraq: Officers". Archived from the original on 2010-01-23. Retrieved 2010-04-20.
  5. doi:10.1093/ml/X.2.108. Oxford University Press ©1929 [1]
  6. ^ Dr. Rashid, Subhi Anwar: The musical Instrument of Iraqi Maqam
  7. ^ "Arabic Musical Instruments". Maqam World. Archived from the original on 7 May 2006. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  8. ISBN 978-1-74104-609-0
    . Retrieved 19 September 2009.
  9. ISBN 978-0-7614-2081-1
    . Retrieved 19 September 2009.
  10. ^ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archives – Lydia Canaan Subject File
  11. ^ a b O'Connor, Tom. "Lydia Canaan One Step Closer to Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame", The Daily Star, Beirut, April 27, 2016.
  12. ^ Salhani, Justin. "Lydia Canaan: The Mideast’s First Rock Star", The Daily Star, Beirut, November 17, 2014.
  13. ^ Livingstone, David. "A Beautiful Life; Or, How a Local Girl Ended Up With a Recording Contract in the UK and Who Has Ambitions in the U.S.", Campus, No. 8, p. 2, Beirut, February 1997.
  14. ^ Ajouz, Wafik. "From Broumana to the Top Ten: Lydia Canaan, Lebanon's 'Angel' on the Road to Stardom", Cedar Wings, No. 28, p. 2, Beirut, July–August 1995.
  15. ^ Aschkar, Youmna. "New Hit For Lydia Canaan", Eco News, No. 77, p. 2, Beirut, January 20, 1997.
  16. ^ Sinclair, David. "Global Music Pulse", Billboard, New York, May 10, 1997.

External links

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