10.1 Regional Folk Styles and Instruments

Middle Eastern folk music is a vibrant tapestry of sounds and styles. From the oud's mellow tones to the zurna's piercing notes, each instrument tells a unique story. These musical traditions reflect the region's rich cultural diversity and historical influences.

Regional variations in folk music showcase the Middle East's complex identity. Whether it's the qanun in Egypt or the saz in Turkey, these instruments and styles paint a vivid picture of local customs and social contexts, from weddings to religious ceremonies.

String Instruments

Oud and Saz

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Top images from around the web for Oud and Saz

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• Oud is a pear-shaped lute with 11-13 strings played with a plectrum
• Considered the "king of instruments" in Arabic music and widely used across the Middle East
• Saz is a long-necked lute with 7-8 strings played with a plectrum or fingers
• Commonly used in Turkish and Kurdish folk music (Anatolia, Mesopotamia)

Qanun and Rebab

• Qanun is a trapezoidal zither with 72-78 strings played with finger picks
• Prominent in classical Arabic music ensembles and some folk traditions (Egypt, Levant)
• Rebab is a spike fiddle with 1-3 strings played with a bow
• One of the earliest bowed string instruments in the Middle East, used in various folk traditions (Maghreb, Arabian Peninsula)

Wind Instruments

Ney and Mijwiz

• Ney is an end-blown flute made from reed or cane with 6-7 finger holes
• Closely associated with Sufi music and widely used in classical and folk music across the Middle East
• Mijwiz is a double-pipe reed instrument with 7 finger holes on each pipe
• Commonly played in Lebanese and Syrian folk music, often for dabke dance

Zurna and Balaban

• Zurna is a double-reed oboe-like instrument with 7-9 finger holes and a loud, piercing sound
• Used in outdoor celebrations and processions in various folk traditions (Balkans, Anatolia, Central Asia)
• Balaban is a double-reed instrument similar to the zurna but with a softer, more mellow tone
• Prominent in Azerbaijani and Armenian folk music, often played in ensembles with drums

Percussion Instruments

Darbuka and Other Drums

• Darbuka (or darbuka) is a single-headed goblet-shaped drum played with the hands
• Widely used in various Middle Eastern folk music traditions for rhythmic accompaniment (Egypt, Levant, Turkey)
• Other common percussion instruments in Middle Eastern folk music include frame drums (bendir, riq), double-headed drums (davul, dhol), and finger cymbals (zils)

Folk Music Diversity

Regional Variations and Cultural Influences

• Middle Eastern folk music encompasses a wide range of regional styles and traditions
• Each region has its own distinct musical characteristics, instruments, and repertoire (Maghreb, Levant, Gulf, Anatolia, Balkans)
• Folk music often reflects the cultural, linguistic, and religious diversity of the Middle East
• Regional variations are shaped by local history, geography, and interactions with neighboring cultures (Arab, Persian, Turkish, Berber, Kurdish)
• Many folk music traditions are associated with specific social contexts, such as weddings, harvest celebrations, or religious rituals (Sufi music, Jewish piyyutim)