Middle Eastern music

Middle Eastern music spans across a vast region, from Morocco to Iran. The various nations
of the region include:
1. Arab countries of the Middle East
2. North Africa,
3. the Iranian traditions of Persia,
4. the Hebrew music of Israel and the diaspora,
5. Armenian music,
6. the varied traditions of Cypriot music,
7. the music of Turkey,
8. traditional Assyrian music,
9. Berbers of North Africa,
10. Coptic Christians in Egypt, and
11. the Andalusian (Muslim Spain)

It is widely regarded.
Es ampliamente, reconocido o Se maneja ampliamente el hecho.

These Music very much alive in North Africa, all maintain their own traditions. It is widely
regarded that some Middle-Eastern musical styles have influenced India, as well as Central
Asia, Spain, and the Balkans.

Unit.
unir.

Throughout the region, religion has been a common factor in uniting peoples of different
languages, cultures and nations.

onward.
en adelante.
from 7th century onward.
desde el 700 en adelante.

The predominance of Islam allowed a great deal of Arabic, and Byzantine influence to
spread through the region rapidly from the 7th century onward.

The Arabic scale is strongly melodic, based on various maqamat (sing. maqam) or modes
(also known as makam in Turkish music). Arabs translated and developed Greek texts and
works of music and mastered the musical theory of the music of ancient Greece. While this
originates with classical music, the modal system has filtered down into folk, liturgical and
even popular music, with influence from the West.

Unlike.
a diferencia de.
Unlike much western music.
A diferencia de mucha música del oeste.
halfway.
en la mitad. En medio.

Unlike much western music, Arabic music includes quarter tones halfway between notes,
often through the use of stringed instruments (like the oud) or the human voice.

Further distinguishing characteristics.

Otras características notables.

Further distinguishing characteristics of Middle Eastern and North African music include
very complex rhythmic structures, generally tense vocal tone, and a monophonic texture.

Traditional Middle Eastern music does not use chords, or harmony in the Western sense.

Often, more traditional Middle-Eastern music can last from one to three hours in length,
building up to anxiously awaited, and much applauded climaxes, or tarab, derived from the
Arabic term ‫ ﻃﺮب‬tarraba

Contents

1 Instruments used
1.1 Strings
1.2 Percussion
1.3 Winds
2 Religious influence
3 Popular music
4 Common genres
4.1 Geographical varieties of Arabic music of Middle East
5 Geographical varieties of non-Arabic music of Middle East
6 References
7 External links

Instruments used
Strings
Many instruments originate in the Middle East region. Most popular of the stringed
instruments is the oud, a pear-shaped lute that traditionally had four strings, although current
instruments have up to six courses consisting of one or two strings each. Legend has it that
the oud was invented by Lamech, the sixth grandson of Adam. This is stated by Al-Farabi,
and it is part of the Iraqi folklore relating to the instrument. Legend goes on to suggest that
the first oud was inspired by the shape of his son's bleached skeleton.[3]
Historically, the oldest pictorial record of the oud dates back to the Uruk period in Southern
Mesopotamia over 5000 years ago. It is on a cylinder seal currently housed at the British
Museum and acquired by Dr. Dominique Collon,[4] Editor of Iraq at the British Institute for
the Study of Iraq.[4]

Used mostly in court music for royals and the rich, the harp also comes from ancient Egypt c.
3500 BC.[5]

The widespread use of the oud led to many variations on the instrument, including the saz, a
Turkish long-necked lute that remains very popular in Turkey.

Another popular string instrument is the qanoun, developed by Farabi during the Abbasids
era. Legend has it that Farabi played qanoun in court and alternately made people laugh,
cry, or fall asleep. The qanoun developed out of string instruments described in inscriptions
that date to the Assyrian period.[6] It has about 26 triple-string courses, plucked with a piece
of horn. The musician has the freedom to alter the pitch of individual courses from a quarter
to a whole step by adjusting metal levers.

Middle Eastern music also makes use of the violin, which is European in origin. The violin
was adopted into Middle Eastern music in the 19th century, and it is able to produce
non-Western scales that include quarter-tones because it is fretless.

Percussion
Percussion instruments play a very important role in Middle Eastern music. The complex
rhythms of this music are often played on many simple percussion instruments. The riq ‫اﻟﺮق‬
(a type of tambourine) and finger cymbals add a higher rhythmic line to rhythm laid down
with sticks, clappers, and other drums. An instrument native to Egypt, Israel, Palestine, and
Lebanon, the doumbek (or tombak), is a drum made of ceramic clay, with a goatskin head
glued to the body.[citation needed]
Winds

The Armenian Duduk is a very popular double reeded, oboe-like instrument made out of
Apricot tree wood. The Moroccan oboe, also called the rhaita, has a double-reed mouthpiece
that echoes sound down its long and narrow body. A similar instrument is called the sorna.
Equivalent to the mizmar and zurna, it is used more for festivals and loud celebrations. A
Turkish influence comes from the mey, which has a large double reed. Bamboo reed pipes
are the most common background to belly dancing and music from Egypt. Flutes are also a
common woodwind instrument in ensembles. A kaval is a three-part flute that is blown in one
end, whereas the ney is a long cane flute, played by blowing across the sharp edge while
pursing the lips.

Religious influence
The influence of Abrahamic religions have had a great impact on the musical culture of the
Middle East. Religion forms a major background to many traditional styles of music and
dance, ranging from classical to more modern. All over the Middle East, you hear songs of
praise and prayer. What is conducted by a muezzin, or prayer caller, for example, are the
five daily calls to prayer. Only since the nineteenth century have individual reciters started
singing the Qur'an while still strictly abiding by the laws and rules. This, however is grossly
inaccurate. This form of Quran recital is called Tajwid, ‫ﺗﺠﻮﯾﺪ‬, which is the Arabic word for
elocution.

Popular music
Music pervades Middle Eastern societies.[8] While traditional music remains popular in the
Middle East, modern music reconciling Western and traditional Arabic styles, pop, and fusion
are rapidly advancing in popularity.[9] Lebanese musical pioneer Lydia Canaan is listed in
the catalog of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum's Library and Archives in
Cleveland, Ohio, USA as the first rock star of the Middle East. Canaan fused Middle Eastern
quarter notes and microtones with anglophone rock, innovating a unique style of world
music.[16]

Common genres
Geographical varieties of Arabic music of Middle East
Arabic music
Arabic Andalusian
Arabic Pop
Arabic Rap
Arabic Rock
Arabesque music
Egyptian Music
Iraqi music
Jordanian music
Lebanese music
Mawwal
Moroccan music
Mugham
Palestinian music
Sha'abi
Syrian music
Zajal

Geographical varieties of non-Arabic music of Middle East

Armenian music
Assyrian/Syriac folk music
Berber music
Coptic music
Iranian music
Jewish music
Israeli music
Kurdish music
Turkish music