MUS1100 Exploring Music World Music Semester 1, 2006 Middle Eastern Music with Dr. Made Mantle Hood

Middle East Countries: Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Morocco, Libya, Algeria, Lebanon, Israel Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Xingjian (W. China)

Middle East: Historical Background II. Brief Historical Background: Three Periods Development (6th - 13 th Cen.) Greek music theory forms foundation for amalgamation of existing Persian, Arabic and Turkish musics formalization of rhythmic and melodic modes

Middle East: Historical Background Conservation (15 th -19 th Cen.) musical stagnation from the Ottoman Empire dominance political upheaval in the West and migration from Spain Modern Period (19 th Cen. - present) decline in traditional instruments from Western and non- Arabic influences rise in Nationalism and the 1939 Cairo Conference revives traditional musical forms

Middle East: Musical characteristics III. Music General: singing of fine poetry sophisticated melodic improvisation long, complex rhythmic patterns Makam – similar to raga in India...a modal system based on hierarchy of tones Usul – similar to tala in India...a rhythmic system with highly developed meters typically in triple meters.

Strings: Oud Strings: oud – fretless plucked lute w/ large body and short neck pine wood sounding board three resonator holes ornate iconography inlaid mother of pearl, ivory and ebony wood. double course strings

Strings: Saz Saz – long-necked plucked lute with tear- drop shaped body, pine wood sounding board without sounding hole corpus resonating hole movable string frets 7 strings, double course cherry bark or plastic plectrum Track 3 – Turkish classical taksim (solo improv)

Video: Turkey Saz solo – Tourism and Folklore Education Centre Troupe (1985) Asian Festival of Traditional Music and Dance – Tokyo, Japan beginning – soloist uses two-handed hammering on-off technique in free rhythm middle – a metered dance piece in 9/4 time end – improvisatory section again in free rhythm

Video: Turkish Spoon Dance Kasik Spoon Dance – southern Turkey from the Medierranean Sea two spoons in each hand as percussion instrument kasik ancestors are believed to have invented the art of making Yoghurt 9-beat asak meter [ ] accompaniment from nay wind instrument, saz, and darabuka or dumbek

IV. Instruments continued – Drums, Winds frame drum round wooden frame 1-3 ” depth – ” in diameter goat, cow, fish or snakeskin head

Drums: frame drums rik – small tabournine frame drum with ‘ finger bells ’ added to the rim and notch for the hand

Drums: kettle drum kettle drum – bowl shaped, bronze metal body with goatskin drum head cross pattern lacing, military association Track 5 – Yemeni Drumming from the Hadramawt

Drums: goblet drums dumbek – single headed goblet drum, ceramic, copper and metal body integrated tabourine interior

Drums: dumbek

Winds: Nay Winds: nay – end-blown flute with six holes in front and 1 thumb hole in back air passes over sound hole similar to traverse flute but with ‘ bottle neck ’ technique

Winds: Shenay shenay – double reed end blown oboe-like wind instrument w/ 6 holes wooden body reed mouth piece brass bell Track 19 – Qurba ‘ bagpipe ’ dance at a wedding in Oman

Video: Tea House Performance – Eastern Turkey Itinerate musicians called asik, meaning ‘ love in Arabic Musicians wander from town to town Sing of heroic deeds of the 16 th cen. Intertwined with improvisational social commentary, practical advise, and humor. Song contests that forbid the use of consonants such as m, p, or b. All-male audience drinks sweet tea, smoke cigarettes

Video: Sema Dance, Sufi Ritual – Central Anatolia “ Whirling Dervishes ” perform 18 th Cen. Dance called ‘ Suzidilara Pesrevi ’ Sufi Muslims of the Mevlevi sect annual dance honoring 12 th Cen. Poet and philosopher Mevlana Rumi Performed on anniversary of his death Dance Depicts religious trance-like ecstasy where dancers gracefully spin counterclockwise Sun, death, tombstone, palms of the hands

Middle East: Summary Many musical instruments of the Middle East are forbearers of modern guitars and lutes Strings are the medium for modally driven Instrumental and vocal music that draws from the makam modal system. Improvisation plays a dominant role for both amateur and professional musician.