🎵Music of the Middle East Unit 5 – Middle Eastern Instruments: Strings, Winds & Drums

Key Instruments Overview

• Middle Eastern music features a diverse array of string, wind, and percussion instruments that create its distinctive sound
• String instruments include the oud (pear-shaped lute), qanun (trapezoidal zither), and kamancheh (spike fiddle) which provide melodic and harmonic foundations
• Wind instruments encompass the ney (end-blown flute), zurna (double reed oboe), and mizmar (conical oboe) adding expressive melodic lines and improvisations
• Percussion instruments range from the darbuka (goblet drum), riq (tambourine), and def (frame drum) to the naqqarat (kettledrums) and qasa'at (finger cymbals) driving rhythmic patterns
  • Darbuka is the most common percussion instrument across the Middle East
  • Riq often accompanies vocal performances and dance
• Instruments are often played in ensembles with a combination of strings, winds, and percussion creating intricate textures and rhythms
• Solo instrumental performances showcase virtuosity and improvisation skills of the musicians
• Instruments are crafted from materials like wood (oud), skin (darbuka), and metal (qanun) using traditional techniques passed down through generations

Historical Context

• Middle Eastern musical instruments have evolved over centuries, with influences from ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Persia
• The oud, one of the most iconic instruments, has roots in ancient Mesopotamia and spread throughout the Middle East during the Islamic Golden Age (8th-13th centuries)
• The Persian Empire's cultural influence led to the development and popularization of instruments like the setar (long-necked lute) and santur (hammered dulcimer)
• The Islamic conquest of the 7th and 8th centuries facilitated the exchange of musical instruments and styles across the Middle East and North Africa
  • This period saw the adaptation of instruments like the ney and qanun in various regions
• The Ottoman Empire's rule (14th-20th centuries) further shaped the musical landscape, with the development of classical Ottoman music and the refinement of instruments like the tanbur (long-necked lute)
• European colonialism in the 19th and 20th centuries introduced Western instruments and musical concepts, leading to the emergence of hybrid styles and the adaptation of traditional instruments
• The 20th century saw a revival of interest in traditional Middle Eastern music and instruments, with the establishment of music conservatories and the preservation of cultural heritage

String Instruments Deep Dive

• The oud is the most prominent string instrument in Middle Eastern music, known for its rich, mellow tone and intricate ornamentation
  • It has a large, pear-shaped body, short neck, and 11-13 strings arranged in 5-6 courses
  • The oud is played with a plectrum (risha) and uses a quarter-tone fretting system
• The qanun is a trapezoidal zither with a range of 3.5 octaves, played by plucking the strings with finger picks
  • It has a complex lever system for fine-tuning and modulating the pitch
  • The qanun often plays the main melody or provides harmonic accompaniment
• The kamancheh is a spike fiddle with a small, rounded body and a long neck, played with a bow
  • It has 4 strings and is held vertically on the player's knee
  • The kamancheh is known for its expressive, voice-like quality and is used for melodic improvisations
• Other notable string instruments include the saz (long-necked lute), tar (waisted lute), and rabab (spike fiddle)
  • The saz is popular in Turkish and Kurdish music, with a distinctive teardrop-shaped body
  • The tar is a central instrument in Persian classical music, known for its delicate sound
• String instruments often play the main melodic lines, provide harmonic support, and engage in call-and-response with other instruments or vocals

Wind Instruments Explored

• The ney is an end-blown flute made from reed or cane, with 6 finger holes and one thumb hole
  • It has a soft, breathy tone and is associated with spiritual and mystical music (Sufi)
  • Ney players employ circular breathing techniques to sustain long phrases
• The zurna is a double reed oboe with a loud, piercing sound, often played in outdoor celebrations and processions
  • It has 7 finger holes and a conical bore, producing a powerful and penetrating tone
  • Zurna players use circular breathing and ornamentation techniques to create continuous, energetic melodies
• The mizmar is a conical oboe with a double reed, similar to the zurna but with a slightly mellower tone
  • It is commonly used in Arabic classical music and folkloric ensembles
  • Mizmar players employ a variety of embouchure and fingering techniques to produce microtonal inflections
• Other wind instruments include the duduk (double reed oboe), balaban (cylindrical oboe), and arghul (double clarinet)
  • The duduk is known for its haunting, emotional sound and is often used in Armenian music
  • The balaban is a key instrument in Azerbaijani mugham music, with a soft, velvety tone
• Wind instruments provide melodic lines, improvisations, and countermelodies, often in dialogue with string instruments and vocals

Percussion and Drums Breakdown

• The darbuka (goblet drum) is the most widely used percussion instrument in Middle Eastern music
  • It has a hollow ceramic or metal body with a skin head, played with the fingers and palm
  • Darbuka players use a variety of strokes and techniques to create complex rhythmic patterns
• The riq (tambourine) is a hand-held frame drum with 5-10 pairs of small cymbals, used for accents and ornamentation
  • It is often played in conjunction with the darbuka, providing a metallic shimmer to the rhythmic foundation
  • Riq players use a combination of hand strikes, shakes, and rolls to create intricate rhythms
• The def (frame drum) is a larger, deeper-sounding drum compared to the riq, with a single row of cymbals
  • It is commonly used in Sufi music and devotional songs
  • Def players use a variety of hand techniques and sometimes mallets to produce a range of tones
• The naqqarat (kettledrums) are a pair of small, bowl-shaped drums played with sticks, providing a sharp, penetrating sound
  • They are often used in classical ensembles and processional music
  • Naqqarat players use a variety of stick techniques to create intricate rhythmic patterns and accents
• Other percussion instruments include the bendir (frame drum), daf (frame drum with metal rings), and qasa'at (finger cymbals)
  • The bendir is a North African frame drum with a snare stretched across the back, creating a buzzing sound
  • The daf is an Iranian frame drum with metal rings attached to the inside, producing a jingle effect
• Percussion instruments provide the rhythmic foundation, drive the tempo, and add texture and ornamentation to the music

Playing Techniques and Styles

• Middle Eastern music is characterized by the use of maqamat (singular: maqam), a system of melodic modes with specific scales, patterns, and ornamentations
  • Each maqam has a unique character and emotional quality, and musicians improvise within its framework
  • Instruments are often tuned to accommodate the microtonal intervals of the maqamat
• Ornamentation is a key element in Middle Eastern music, with musicians using techniques like trills, slides, and vibrato to embellish the melodic lines
  • String instruments employ techniques such as hammer-ons, pull-offs, and glissandi to create expressive ornaments
  • Wind instruments use techniques like pitch bending, half-holing, and flutter-tonguing to produce microtonal inflections and ornaments
• Improvisation (taqsim) is a central aspect of Middle Eastern music, with musicians demonstrating their creativity and virtuosity through solo passages
  • Taqsim often follows a specific maqam and showcases the musician's ability to explore its nuances and emotional range
  • Improvisation is a dialogue between the soloist and the ensemble, with musicians responding to and building upon each other's ideas
• Rhythmic patterns (iqa'at) are complex and varied, often featuring asymmetric meters and syncopation
  • Percussion instruments play a crucial role in establishing and maintaining these rhythmic structures
  • Musicians use techniques like anticipation, hesitation, and displacement to create tension and release within the rhythmic framework
• Heterophony is a common texture in Middle Eastern music, with instruments and vocals playing the same melody but with slight variations and ornamentations
  • This creates a rich, layered sound that highlights the individual expressions of each musician while maintaining a cohesive ensemble

Cultural Significance and Usage

• Music plays a central role in Middle Eastern culture, accompanying various aspects of daily life, religious practices, and celebrations
• Traditional music is often associated with specific regions, ethnic groups, and languages, reflecting the diversity of the Middle East
  • For example, the oud is strongly linked to Arabic music, while the tar is a key instrument in Persian music
  • Kurdish music features the tanbur and the saz, which are important in preserving cultural identity
• Religious music, such as Islamic devotional songs (nasheed) and Sufi music (sama), uses instruments like the ney and def to create a meditative and spiritual atmosphere
  • The ney is particularly associated with Sufi mysticism and the concept of divine love
  • Sufi music often features repetitive, trance-like rhythms and chanting, aiming to induce a state of ecstasy and unity with the divine
• Folk music and dance traditions, such as the dabke (Levantine line dance) and the halay (Anatolian folk dance), are accompanied by instruments like the zurna, davul (bass drum), and def
  • These traditions often celebrate important life events, such as weddings, harvests, and religious holidays
  • Instrumental music is an integral part of these celebrations, providing the energy and rhythm for communal dancing and singing
• Classical music traditions, such as Arabic maqam music, Persian dastgah music, and Ottoman fasıl music, feature sophisticated compositions and improvisations on instruments like the oud, qanun, and tanbur
  • These traditions are often performed in intimate settings, such as music halls and royal courts
  • Classical music showcases the technical mastery and artistic expression of the musicians, and is considered a high art form
• In modern times, traditional instruments have been incorporated into popular music genres, such as Arabic pop, Turkish arabesk, and Iranian pop, creating new hybrid styles that appeal to younger audiences
  • Musicians often use electric and amplified versions of traditional instruments, such as the electric oud and the electric saz
  • The fusion of traditional instruments with modern production techniques and Western musical elements has led to the emergence of new musical expressions that reflect the changing cultural landscape of the Middle East

Modern Adaptations and Fusion

• Middle Eastern musicians have been increasingly experimenting with new ways of incorporating traditional instruments into contemporary music genres and cross-cultural collaborations
• Fusion with Western music has led to the development of new musical styles, such as Arabic jazz, which combines the improvisational elements of jazz with the maqam system and traditional instruments like the oud and qanun
  • Musicians like Rabih Abou-Khalil, Simon Shaheen, and Dhafer Youssef have pioneered this fusion, creating innovative compositions that bridge musical traditions
  • These collaborations have introduced Middle Eastern instruments and musical concepts to a wider global audience
• Electronic music producers have been sampling and manipulating the sounds of traditional instruments, creating new sonic landscapes that blend the old with the new
  • Artists like Mercan Dede, Niyaz, and Acid Arab have used electronic beats and effects to reinterpret traditional melodies and rhythms
  • These experimental works have attracted younger audiences and have contributed to the revitalization of interest in traditional instruments and music
• Film and television soundtracks have also played a role in popularizing Middle Eastern instruments and music, with composers incorporating them into their scores for added cultural authenticity and emotional depth
  • Films like "Gladiator", "Kingdom of Heaven", and "Syriana" have featured the oud, ney, and other traditional instruments in their soundtracks
  • Television series like "The Crown" and "The Spy" have used Middle Eastern instruments to evoke specific cultural and historical settings
• World music festivals and cross-cultural collaborations have provided platforms for Middle Eastern musicians to showcase their instruments and music to international audiences
  • Festivals like WOMAD, Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, and the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music have featured Middle Eastern artists and ensembles
  • Collaborations between Middle Eastern and Western musicians, such as Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble, have fostered cultural exchange and mutual understanding
• The internet and social media have made it easier for Middle Eastern musicians to share their music and connect with audiences around the world
  • Platforms like YouTube, SoundCloud, and Bandcamp have allowed musicians to distribute their recordings and performances to a global audience
  • Social media has enabled musicians to engage directly with their fans, share their creative process, and build a community around their music
• The adaptation and fusion of Middle Eastern instruments and music with contemporary styles and technologies have opened up new possibilities for artistic expression and cultural dialogue
  • These developments have not only ensured the survival and relevance of traditional instruments in the modern world but have also enriched the global musical landscape with new sounds and perspectives