🎵Music of the Middle East Unit 2 – Middle Eastern Music: Geography & Culture

Key Regions and Cultural Influences

• Middle East encompasses a vast geographic area spanning from North Africa to Central Asia
• Major regions include the Levant (Syria, Lebanon, Palestine), Arabian Peninsula (Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman), Mesopotamia (Iraq), Persia (Iran), and Anatolia (Turkey)
• Each region has distinct cultural traditions shaped by its history, language, and religious practices
  • Levant known for its rich heritage of Arabic music and poetry (muwashshah, zajal)
  • Persian classical music (dastgah) highly influential across the Middle East
• Islamic Golden Age (8th-13th centuries) saw flourishing of arts and sciences, including music theory and instrument development
• Nomadic Bedouin tribes of the Arabian Peninsula developed unique musical styles reflecting their desert lifestyle (al-ghina' al-badawi)
• Ottoman Empire (14th-20th centuries) played a significant role in disseminating Turkish musical traditions (makam) throughout the Middle East
• Interaction with neighboring regions (Balkans, North Africa, Central Asia) led to cross-cultural musical exchanges and influences

Historical Timeline of Middle Eastern Music

• Ancient civilizations (Sumerians, Babylonians, Egyptians) developed early musical traditions using harps, lyres, and percussion instruments
• Greek music theory (maqamat) introduced to the Middle East during Hellenistic period (4th-1st centuries BCE)
• Rise of Islam in the 7th century CE brought new musical practices and instruments (oud, ney) from the Arabian Peninsula
• Abbasid Caliphate (750-1258 CE) patronized music and poetry, establishing Baghdad as a cultural center
  • Renowned musicians and theorists (Ziryab, Al-Farabi, Ibn Sina) made significant contributions to Middle Eastern music
• Crusades (11th-13th centuries) facilitated cultural exchange between Europe and the Middle East
• Safavid Dynasty (1501-1736) in Persia promoted classical music and poetry (ghazal)
• Modernization and Westernization in the 19th and 20th centuries led to the emergence of new musical genres and styles (tarab, rai, pop)

Traditional Instruments and Ensembles

• Oud (pear-shaped lute) considered the "king of instruments" in Middle Eastern music
  • Fretless neck allows for expressive microtonal melodies
  • Widely used in solo performances and ensemble settings
• Ney (end-blown reed flute) associated with Sufi mysticism and spiritual music
• Qanun (plucked zither) provides intricate melodic embellishments and harmonies
• Violin (kamancheh in Persian) adapted to Middle Eastern music in the 19th century
• Percussion instruments (darbuka, riq, def) maintain rhythmic foundation and add dynamic energy
• Traditional ensembles (takht, firqa) consist of a combination of melodic and rhythmic instruments
  • Takht typically includes oud, ney, qanun, violin, and percussion
  • Firqa is a larger ensemble with additional wind and string instruments
• Vocal music plays a central role in Middle Eastern traditions, often featuring improvised melismatic singing (mawwal)

Melodic and Rhythmic Structures

• Maqam (plural: maqamat) is the foundation of Middle Eastern melodic structure
  • Consists of a set of pitches, intervallic relationships, and melodic development rules
  • Each maqam has a unique character and emotional quality (rast: joy, saba: sorrow)
• Microtonal intervals (half-flats, half-sharps) are an essential feature of maqamat
  • Allows for expressive inflections and subtle shades of emotion
• Taqsim is a form of melodic improvisation that explores the contours of a maqam
• Iqa' (rhythmic mode) provides the temporal framework for Middle Eastern music
  • Consists of cyclical patterns of accented and unaccented beats (dum, tak)
  • Common iqa'at include maqsum (4/4), sama'i (10/8), and ayyub (2/4)
• Polyrhythms and syncopation create complex, interlocking grooves
• Call-and-response between melodic instruments and percussion is a common feature of Middle Eastern music

Religious and Secular Musical Traditions

• Islam has had a profound influence on Middle Eastern music
  • Qur'anic recitation (tajwid) is a highly developed art form with its own melodic modes and rules
  • Sufi music (sama') uses music and dance as a means of spiritual devotion and trance
• Jewish musical traditions in the Middle East (piyyut, maqam) have been shaped by centuries of coexistence and cultural exchange
  • Pizmonim are religious hymns sung in Hebrew and Aramaic
• Christian liturgical music in the Middle East (Byzantine chant, Syriac chant) has its own distinct characteristics and influences
• Secular music encompasses a wide range of genres and styles
  • Classical music (al-musiqa al-arabiyya al-qadima) performed in courts and elite gatherings
  • Folk music (al-musiqa al-sha'biyya) reflects the diversity of regional cultures and languages
• Love songs (ghazal) and poetry (qasida) are popular themes in secular music
• Music is an essential part of celebrations and life-cycle events (weddings, births, festivals)

Contemporary Middle Eastern Music Scene

• 20th century saw the rise of popular music genres influenced by Western styles (jazz, rock, hip-hop)
  • Egyptian pop (al-jil) blends traditional Arabic music with Western instrumentation and production techniques
  • Turkish pop (Arabesk) combines Turkish folk music with Arabic and Western elements
• Rai music originated in Algeria and gained international popularity in the 1980s
  • Blends North African rhythms with electronic instrumentation and socially conscious lyrics
• Palestinian hip-hop emerged as a voice of resistance and cultural identity
• Fusion genres (world music, ethno-jazz) incorporate Middle Eastern elements into global musical contexts
• Digital technology and social media have transformed the production, distribution, and consumption of Middle Eastern music
• Diaspora communities play a significant role in preserving and innovating traditional music

Cultural Significance and Social Impact

• Music is deeply intertwined with Middle Eastern cultural identity and heritage
  • Serves as a means of preserving history, language, and traditions
  • Reflects the diversity and complexity of Middle Eastern societies
• Music plays a central role in social gatherings and communal celebrations
  • Reinforces social bonds and cultural values
  • Provides a space for shared emotional experiences
• Political and social movements have used music as a tool for expression and mobilization
  • Protest songs (al-ughniya al-siyasiya) address issues of social justice, freedom, and resistance
• Music education is highly valued in Middle Eastern cultures
  • Traditional apprenticeship systems (talqin) ensure the transmission of musical knowledge and skills
• Music therapy (al-ilaj bi al-musiqa) has roots in ancient Middle Eastern medical practices
  • Used to treat physical and mental ailments
  • Reflects the holistic approach to health and well-being in Middle Eastern cultures

Notable Artists and Compositions

• Umm Kulthum (Egypt, 1898-1975) - "The Star of the East"
  • Renowned for her powerful voice and emotional performances
  • "Enta Omri" (You Are My Life) is one of her most famous songs
• Fairuz (Lebanon, 1934-present) - "The Soul of Lebanon"
  • Known for her ethereal voice and poetic lyrics
  • "Habaytak Bisayf" (I Loved You in the Summer) is a classic of Lebanese music
• Ravi Shankar (India, 1920-2012) - "The Godfather of World Music"
  • Introduced Indian classical music to Western audiences
  • Collaborated with Western musicians (George Harrison, Philip Glass)
• Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (Pakistan, 1948-1997) - "The Voice from Heaven"
  • Master of Qawwali, a form of Sufi devotional music
  • "Allah Hoo Allah Hoo" is a powerful example of his vocal prowess
• Anouar Brahem (Tunisia, 1957-present) - "The Poet of the Oud"
  • Combines traditional Arab music with jazz and world music influences
  • "Astrakan Café" is a seminal album in the world music genre
• Kayhan Kalhor (Iran, 1963-present) - "The Master of the Kamancheh"
  • Virtuoso of Persian classical music and cross-cultural collaborations
  • "The Wind" is a haunting duet with Turkish baglama player Erdal Erzincan