IGCSE MUSIC : WORLD MUSIC: THE MUSIC OF THE ARAB WORLD

Folk Music:
Folk music in the Arab world has remained much unchanged through the centuries
to present day. Arab folk music is mainly vocal and is used to celebrate events in
the lives of individuals and communities.
Folk music tends to have a narrow range, usually only a forth of fifth.
Call and Response can be very common in the instrumental and vocal music
also.
There is a strong rhythmic element to the music sometimes using hand
clapping and drums.
Arab melodies generally us a tetrachord (4 consecutive notes) or a pentachord
(five consecutive notes).
Epic Song:
These are story poems performed by a solo singer and accompanied by a Rabab or
even an ud. Epic songs keep alive the stories of heroes and historic events.
Maqam:
These are the equivalent of the western scales but they have different combinations
of tones and semitones and even include quartertones. (A quartertone is half a
semitone). The pitch of the tonic may be chosen to suit the performer therefore
there is no real fixed pitch.
The melody is based on the notes of the maqam
In Arab music the octave is not divided up into equal semitones like those of
Western Music. The Arab scale consists of:

Two octaves, divided into quartertone intervals.

The complete range of possible notes in the two octaves is called the Jadwal
Each octave is called a Diwan
The Diwan is again divided into half octaves called Ajnas

 The melodies are usually composed using only one Ajan

Performance and Heterophony:
A typical performing group would consist of a singer with an accompanying
instrument or a small group.
The texture can very often be Heterophonic
Music in the World of Islam:
The spread of Islam resulted in a great exchange of ideas as the fold music of each
area influenced the music of other areas both folk and classical.
Many instruments used in the Arab world are also found in Europe and India.
Music is used a lot to enhance the religion:
The call to prayer known as the adhan.
The chanting of the Quran.
Festival music known as Fazzaziiyat.
Instruments of the Arab World:
String Instruments
Name of Instrument Melody or Accompaniment
How sound is produced
Rabab (fiddle with Melody
Stings are bowed
one or two strings)
Ud (five stringed
Melody and Accompaniment
The strings are plucked
Arab Lute)
Qanun
Melody and Accompaniment
The strings are struck with
mallets or forks
Woodwind Instruments
Name of Instrument Melody or Accompaniment
How sound is produced

IGCSE MUSIC : WORLD MUSIC: THE MUSIC OF THE ARAB WORLD

Nay (end blown

flute)

Melody

Air is blown into

instruments

Percussion Instruments
Name of Instrument Melody or Accompaniment
How sound is produced
Drum (Tabla Like) Rhythm
Membranes are struck
There are also many more percussion instruments used in the Arab world which
resemble shakers, tambourines and other types of percussion instruments