Music of the Middle East

The music of the Middle East encompasses the musical systems of Iran (Persia), the Arab diaspora, and Turkey

Each region shares five traditions similar to Western music

Islamic cultural and musical values affect what is and is not considered music

There are three prominent features that unite Middle Eastern musical culture

1. Vocal and compositional styles are derived from the recitation of the Holy Koran

2. Music creates a kind of ecstatic, emotional bond between performer and audience

3. The “suite,” or collection of individual pieces played together, is the major unifying compositional principle

In the Middle East, music is generally considered an indulgence and therefore not good

In the Middle East amateur musicians maintain a higher status than professionals

In Western culture, improvised music has a tonal and structural framework Arabic music has maqam

Ensemble music has a special kind of monophony called heterophony

What are the differences between Middle Eastern and Indian ensemble textures?

Islam is the most distinctive feature of the Middle East as a cultural area

Religious ambivalence has not prohibited musical activity

Perhaps the most obvious difference is the definition of “music,” which is very narrow

On a sliding scale, between khandan and musiqi, where can we place different types of Western music, from church hymns to punk rock?

Professional musicians are mostly specialists

The scholarly study of music is admired

Chanting of the Holy Koran, CD 1 track 4

There is a broad similarity between Iranian traditions and those of Arabic and Turkish areas

There are numerous instruments common to Iranian music

The tar is a heavy, long-necked lute with frets

The kamancheh (spiked fiddle)

The santour (hammered dulcimer)

The violin (played in the Western fashion)

What are the similarities and differences between the Middle Eastern chordophones and chordophones found elsewhere throughout the word?

The ney (bamboo flute)

The dombak or zarb (goblet-shaped drum)

In Iran, learning classical music and learning to improvise are more or less synonymous

What are some similarities between Middle Eastern and Indian music improvisation?

Scales and arpeggios of Western music are similar to the radif

Radif is the basic repertoire used as the foundation for composition and improvisation

A typical Iranian performance ideally consists of five parts

Chahar Mezrab in Mahour, performed on santour. Textbook CD1, track 5.

An Avaz in Shur. Textbook CD1, track 7

Radif of Nour-Ali Boroumand CD 1 track 8

6 excerpts based on Daramad CD1 track 11

Although each version is individual, the essential characteristics of the daramad can be heard

A performance in any maqam may modulate to another maqam

Taqsim Nahawand CD1 track 10

Illustrations of Major Maqams CD1 track 6

Music of the dervishes is metric and ceremonial

Popular music is typically a female singer accompanied by a small ensemble of instruments

Some of these singers, like Umm Kulthum, went beyond the music halls

Ya Zalimni CD1, track 9

Summary

The Middle East encompasses a large, diverse geographical and cultural area

Middle Eastern music generally is highly improvised and heterophonic

Vocal and instrumental music is generally highly ornamented

Vocal music predominates

The primary instrument is the oud, a type of lute

The most common musical form is the suite

The best music is thought to inspire a trance-like, higher experience of life

Maqam are used as the basis of all melodic creation

There is a strict hierarchy of music and performers

What are the common beliefs in Christianity, Hinduism and Islam concerning the origin of their vocal and instrument music?