🎵Music of the Middle East Unit 10 – Middle Eastern Folk Music Traditions

Historical Context

• Middle Eastern folk music traditions have ancient roots dating back thousands of years
• Influenced by various civilizations and empires that ruled the region (Persian, Ottoman, Arab)
• Oral transmission played a crucial role in preserving and passing down musical knowledge across generations
• Islamic golden age (8th-14th centuries) saw a flourishing of musical culture and theory
• Sufi mysticism significantly impacted the development of devotional music and poetry
• Migration and trade along the Silk Road facilitated cultural exchange and musical cross-pollination
• Colonialism and political upheavals in the 20th century led to the preservation and revival of traditional music as a symbol of cultural identity

Key Instruments and Ensembles

• Oud: pear-shaped, fretless lute central to Middle Eastern music
  • Considered the ancestor of the European lute and guitar
  • Played with a plectrum and known for its expressive, melismatic playing style
• Ney: end-blown reed flute associated with Sufi music and spirituality
  • Requires circular breathing technique and conveys a haunting, ethereal sound
• Qanun: trapezoidal zither with 72-78 strings played with finger picks
  • Provides intricate melodic embellishments and rich textures
• Darbuka: goblet-shaped hand drum essential for maintaining rhythmic patterns
• Takht ensemble: small group typically consisting of oud, ney, qanun, violin, and percussion
  • Performs instrumental and vocal music in intimate settings (homes, cafes)
• Firqa: larger ensemble that includes additional wind and string instruments
  • Often performs at weddings, festivals, and formal concerts

Melodic and Rhythmic Structures

• Maqam system: complex framework of melodic modes and improvisational guidelines
  • Each maqam has a unique scale, characteristic phrases, and emotional associations
  • Performers navigate maqamat through modulation and improvisation
• Taqsim: solo instrumental improvisation that explores the nuances of a maqam
  • Demonstrates a musician's technical skill, creativity, and emotional expression
• Iqa'at: rhythmic modes or patterns that provide the foundation for compositions and improvisation
  • Cycles of beats with varying accents and subdivisions (Samai, Baladi, Maqsum)
• Heterophony: texture where multiple instruments or voices elaborate on a single melody simultaneously
  • Creates a rich, layered sound with subtle variations and ornamentations
• Call and response: musical dialogue between a soloist and ensemble or between different sections of a group
• Ornamentation: extensive use of trills, slides, and vibrato to add expressiveness and depth to the melody

Regional Variations

• Arabic music: encompasses traditions from the Arabian Peninsula, Levant, and North Africa
  • Emphasis on vocal music, poetry, and the oud as a central instrument
• Persian music: from Iran and influenced by Zoroastrian and Sufi traditions
  • Features the dastgah system, a collection of modal structures and melodic motifs
  • Prominent instruments include the tar (long-necked lute) and kamancheh (spiked fiddle)
• Turkish music: blends elements from Ottoman court music and Anatolian folk traditions
  • Utilizes the makam system, similar to the Arabic maqam
  • Distinctive instruments like the baglama (long-necked lute) and ney
• Kurdish music: found in regions of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria
  • Known for its halay dance music and the use of the tanbur (long-necked lute)
• Azerbaijani mugham: combines poetry, improvised singing, and instrumental music
  • Performed by a trio consisting of a singer, tar, and kamancheh

Cultural Significance and Social Functions

• Music is deeply interwoven with daily life, religious practices, and social gatherings
• Folk songs often reflect the joys, sorrows, and experiences of common people
  • Themes include love, nature, heroism, and political struggle
• Weddings and celebrations feature lively dance music and communal singing
  • Dabke: a popular line dance performed at weddings and festivals across the Levant
• Sufi music, such as Qawwali and Sema, aims to induce spiritual ecstasy and divine connection
  • Dhikr ceremonies involve chanting, rhythmic movement, and music to achieve a trance-like state
• Work songs accompany daily tasks (harvesting, weaving, fishing) and help to coordinate labor
• Lullabies and children's songs transmit cultural values and traditions to younger generations
• Music serves as a means of preserving cultural identity and resisting assimilation in the face of political and social change

Performance Practices

• Oral tradition: music is learned and transmitted through listening, imitation, and memorization
  • Importance of the master-apprentice relationship in guiding musical development
• Improvisation is a fundamental aspect of performance
  • Musicians are expected to interpret and embellish melodies within the framework of the maqam or dastgah
• Emotional expression and creating a tarab (musical ecstasy) are prioritized over strict adherence to notation
• Interactive performances where audiences participate through clapping, singing, and dancing
  • Performers respond to and feed off the energy of the audience
• Incorporation of poetry and storytelling, particularly in vocal music genres
  • Singers convey the meaning and emotions of the text through vocal inflections and improvisations
• Flexibility in instrumentation and ensemble size depending on the context and available resources
  • Adaptability to various performance settings (intimate gatherings, large concerts, religious ceremonies)

Influential Artists and Recordings

• Umm Kulthum (Egypt, 1904-1975): iconic singer known for her powerful voice and emotive performances
  • Recordings include "Enta Omri" and "Al-Atlal"
• Fairuz (Lebanon, b. 1934): beloved vocalist who helped popularize Lebanese and Arabic music internationally
  • Albums like "Andaloussiyat" and "Wahdon" showcase her distinctive style
• Munir Bashir (Iraq, 1930-1997): virtuoso oud player who expanded the instrument's technical and expressive possibilities
  • Recordings such as "The Art of the Oud" and "Flamenco Roots"
• Mohammad Reza Shajarian (Iran, 1940-2020): master vocalist known for his interpretations of Persian classical poetry
  • Albums like "Bidad" and "Sepideh" highlight his emotive singing and improvisational skills
• Aşık Veysel (Turkey, 1894-1973): revered saz (long-necked lute) player and poet
  • Recordings of his songs, such as "Uzun İnce Bir Yoldayım" and "Kara Toprak," remain popular today
• The Rahbani Brothers (Lebanon): composers and lyricists who created a new style of Lebanese music in the 20th century
  • Their collaborations with Fairuz, including the musical "Mais el-Rim," are considered classics

Contemporary Adaptations and Fusion

• Incorporation of Western instruments (guitar, piano, saxophone) and harmony into traditional ensembles
  • Anouar Brahem's oud-led jazz collaborations on albums like "Blue Maqams"
• Blending of Middle Eastern music with other global genres (flamenco, jazz, hip-hop)
  • Dhafer Youssef's fusion of Sufi music, jazz, and electronic elements on "Divine Shadows"
• Experimentation with new compositional forms and structures
  • Kayhan Kalhor's "Silent City," a multi-movement work for kamancheh and string orchestra
• Revival and reinterpretation of traditional repertoire by contemporary artists
  • Yasmin Levy's modern take on Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) songs in "Mano Suave"
• Use of technology and electronic instruments to create new sounds and textures
  • Mercan Dede's incorporation of electronic beats and sampling in "Sufi Dreams"
• Cross-cultural collaborations between Middle Eastern and Western musicians
  • Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble, bringing together artists from various traditions
• Emergence of world music festivals and platforms showcasing Middle Eastern music to global audiences
  • Festivals like WOMAD and Babel Med Music provide exposure and opportunities for collaboration