Traditional Arabic Music

Unit Check #3 - WM

What is the focus in Traditional Arabic Music?

• Melody, Timbre, Ornamentation

• Expression of emotion through performance, rather than intellectual concepts (form, imagery).

What is not prevalent in Traditional Arabic Music?

Harmony

What is Tarab (ecstasy)

“Musical enchantment” brought by deep listening

• Heightened emotion associated with Arabic music

• Listeners “captivated” or “haunted” by a particular maqam/rendering of text

Ex: “Umm Kulthum, “Ghanilli Shwaya Shwaya”

Trans: “Sing to me a little and enchant me".

What are the 2 major categories of Traditional Arabic Music?

1. Folkloric repertoire - Performed to accompany dance at festivals/gatherings.

2. Classical/popular repertoire - Concert stage music throughout the Arab world.

What is Takht?

• Arabic classical/popular music ensemble

• 5-7 musicians

  Kanun (zither), Oud (flute), Ney (flute), Riqq (tambourine), Violin, solo singer.

What is the Oud instrument?

Lute (from “al Oud”)

• 10 or 12 strings grouped in 5/6 courses (sets)

• Pear-shaped, no frets

• Had origins in Ancient Egypt & Mesopotamia, 4000/5000 years ago

• Played with a pick called Risha

What is the Saz instrument?

Aka Tanbur, Sehtar, Buzuq

• 2-4 metal strings

• Movable frets

• Brigher timbre than the Oud

What is the Ney instrument?

• Flute made out of cane/wood

• Found in Egyptian tombs dating back 5,000 years

• Uses circular breathing

  Technique where player blows out while also breathing in through the nose, in order to achieve an uninterrupted air stream.

What is the Kamancheh instrument?

Aka Kamanjah, Rebab

• Bowed fiddle

• 4 strings

  • Formerly silk (now metal) strings

What is the Kanun (zither) instrument?

• Thin trapezoidal soundboard

• 24-26 sets of strings (2/3 strings per set)

• Mandals: metallic levers for each set, used to ornament pitch

• Plucked with tortoise-shell picks

What is the rhythm in Arabic music?

Iqa - Rhythmic patterns/modes

• Primary carrier is often the riqq tambourine or duff frame drum (in classical ensembles) & the darbuka goblet drum (in folk/dance groups).

What are the sound names of the darbuka goblet drum?

1. “Dum” - Deep sound in center of drum

2. “Tek” - Briguer sound on edge of drum

3. “Ka” - Sound on edge of drum higher and brighter than “tek”

What is the Arabic Tone System?

• Divides octave into 24 pitches rather than 12

• Microtones - fall between the pitches of the chromatic scale.

What is the Maqam?

Melodic scale with a hierarchy of pitches

• Set of rules for improvisation/composition

• Specific melodic phrases/ornamentations

• Associated moods & emotions

  Ex: Strength, sorrow, courage, pleasure, love, devotion, etc.

• Over 79 maqam exist

What are 3 examples of Maqam?

1. Bayyati - Folk songs": Q’uranic recitations: Coptic church weddings

2. Rast - Dignity & Gravity: religious songs

3. Huzam - Youth & strength: comfort of the soul

What is Taqasim (or Taqsim)

• Unmetered instrumental performance of a Maqam

• Performers lead the listeners on an exploration of the principle tones of the Maqam scale

  Ex: Improvisation by Oud (deep resonance & lower range) & Buzuk (thinner, brighter timbre).W

What is the Arabic Suite?

• A sequence of songs and instrumental pieces unified by a single Maqam

• Begin with freely rhythmic improvisation (taqasim) & move into metered compositions

• Different forms/names in different countries

  Morocco: Nuba

  Turkey & Syria: Fasil

  Egypt: Waslah

  North Africa: Nawbah

  Iraq: Maqam