Arabic Folk and Popular Music Egypt, Lebanon, Spain

Music and Islam in the Arabic World A minority of Muslims strongly discourage the practice of music of any type Music may be performed by “outsiders” Music is important to rural groups and tribes Success of singers and “stars” often outweigh protests against them Blending of styles, indigenous and foreign encouraged

Arabic Music Terms Maqam (maqamat, plural) = mode, with melodic patterns, ways to develop melodies, character Iq’a (Usul = Turkish) = rhythmic “modes”, groupings of beats, usu. 7-16 Taqsim = instrumental improvisation Arabs translated Greek musical theory works, hence close affinity between Greek modes and Arabic maqamat; Like Persian culture, Arabic poetry was strongest influence on music PLAY MAQAM LESSON http://www.maqamlessons.com/ Play Bayati demo on violin

Popular Music in Cairo The most important locale for dissemination of Arabic popular music in 19th and 20th centuries Commercial recordings produced since 1904 Since 1920s, Egyptian music and culture has been broadcast to Arabic world Attracts variety of artists, not just Egyptian

EGYPT

Wedding Music Last for days; always includes dance music and vocal music Hassabala troupe (bugles, trumpets, wooden drums) with dancers May include belly dancing and singing (raks sharki) PLAY RURAL WEDDING EXAMPLE

Umm Kalthum (1904-1975) “…indisputably the Arab world’s greatest singer” Learned to sing reciting poetic verses at cafes and trained in religious chanting Known for intense love songs, some lasting more than an hour Her funeral was attended by 3 million + people in Cairo “She was once asked to sing a line over 52 times, which she did while developing the melody each time” PLAY YOU TUBE EXCERPT OF FILM OF HER LIFE (10 MIN)

LEBANON

Lebanese Folk and Popular Musics Beirut, like Cairo, is center for Arabic music production Fairuz (singer, considered 2nd only to Umm Kalthum) Most famous Lebanese singer Recorded 800+ songs Variety of styles and genres

Arabic Influence in Spain 711 AD – 1492, southern Spain under Muslim rule “Moors” - from Latin mauri, a name for the Berber tribes living in Roman Mauretania (modern day Algeria and Morocco). Used to refer to all Muslims, Berber or Arab, who conquered the Iberian Peninsula. 11th cent. - Moorish Spain (Al-Andalus) was center for the manufacture of instruments. Instruments spread through France (troubadours) and Europe (Instrument names “lute”, “rebec,” “guitar” are from the Arabic “oud,” “rabab,” “qitara.”

Flamenco In 19th cent., assoc. with Romani (Gypsies) Voice, guitar, jaleo (finger snapping, hand clapping, shouts of encouragement) Repertoire consists of various dance styles and rhythms Andalusian chord progression = Am – G-F-E PLAY LATCHO DROM CLIP Andalusia