North Africa/ Middle East

Christianity, Islam, Judaism

What are the 3 main religions in North Africa, Middle east

Melismas

Sung melodies with many notes to a symbol in Arabic music

Improvisation based on basic tones or melodies, heterophony, rhythms based on beat patterns, use of quarter tones

What are the elements of middle eastern music

Musiqa

what is non sacred music called

Ghawazi

Women who dance for entertainment (belly Dancing)

Quira-ah

What is sacred music called

Adhan

What is islams call to prayer called

Muezzin

One who chants the adhan (call to prayer)

Sufism

Mystical form of Islam that is more accepting of music in a religious context than orthodox branches

Maqam

Modes of Muslim classical music

Ud

A variety of plucked chordophones

Tanbur

The long necked lite variety of chordophones

Tar

Plucked lute, hourglass shape

Arabic tuning system

Tuning system based on quarter tones or micro tones

Modes

Pitch sets with unique characteristics such as extra music elements (emotion, place, times of day, religious feelings), ornaments, or movement

Tarab (ecstasy)

Transcendent, passionate emotional experience resulting from the combination of highly expressive music and poetry

Iqa

Arabic rhythms, mnemonics, complex rhythm cycles

Takht

Traditional Arabic music ensemble, violin, ud, zither, ney tambourine,singer, drones, ostinato

Ostinato

Short repeated patterns

Dastga

Pitch collection that is basis for Iranian modal improvisation (similar to maqam)

Gusheh

Short, related melodies that make up a dastgah. Provides basis for solo improvisation

Chahar Mezrab

Strongly rhythmic gusheh, metered section

Diaspora

Distribution of people from their homeland throughout the world

Sephardic Jews

Jews expelled from Iberian Penninsula into rest of Europe in 1500s

Ashkenazic Jews

Jews mainly in Germany, Austria, and Eastern Europe

Levites

Hereditary caste of professional musicians

Shofar

A rams horn trumpet

Klezmer music

Popular music, with clarinet, violin

Cantillation music

Religious synagogue singing

Romancero

Ballad like popular music from Jews in Spain, sung in Ladino