Chapter 3: The Middle East
Chapter 3: The Middle East
Chapter 3: The Middle East
East
What is considered “Middle East?”
Religion is Islam
creates homogeny throughout countries
What the text really doesn’t cover
Not much on Israel, Jewish religion
MUEZZIN
Why fasting from food / water?
Stay focused on prayer.
Earthly distractions (eating, working) takes
http://www.allaahuakbar.net/sufism/
its_origin.htm
Music of all forms is forbidden by the majority of scholars
attached to forbidden drinking, fornication and parties.
after the Muslim conquest of the Deccan under Malik Kafur (c.
1310)
a large number of Hindu musicians were taken with the royal
armies and settled in the North.
Texture
◦ monophonic/heterophonic
◦ No harmony
Singing style
◦ tense, harsh tone
◦ no vibrato (straight tone)
◦ highly ornamented (lots of fast notes)
More elements
Melodic Organization
◦ system of modes (scale type organization)
◦ includes bent tones
maqam (Arabic) dastgah (Persian)
Rhythmic Organization
◦ metric, non metric, and combinations
Improvisation
◦ Central but strict framework
Prominent Instruments
Great list on pp 63
Chordophones
Membranophones
Aerophones
Vocal/instrumental; composed/improvised
Musical Instruments
Not usually made by Muslims
Intrumental music still considered dangerous
Instrumental timbres mirror vocal sound
Long-necked Lutes: setar, tar
Spiked fiddle: kamancheh
Hammered dulcimer: santour
Bamboo flute: nei
Drum zarb
Musical Scales, Tones
Dastgah: a particular scale, character, and
melodic theme, around which a tune is
improvised; formal structure for a classical
piece of music
Khatereh Parvane
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Khan: musical family for generations
Sufi singer and his Party
Songs to god, praise songs
Devotional songs
Poetic lyrics
The Revolution in Iran, 1979
Tar
◦ long necked lute
Ensemble Music
Dastgah Segah
◦ Two, old tasnifs (lyrical songs)
◦ Sufi texts, ensemble accompaniment
◦ Instrumental intro
Guidance.
b. Listen to both;
musical elements
Sirvan Khosravi
Electric programmed traditional instruments
Ethiopian influence in background
Appearance was globally contemporary
Single melody repeated
Voice sounded more Western; lack of
ornaments
Beat was more ‘techno’
This assignment is on D2L: Farsi-Pop: Listen to 1
track each. Choose one.www translationlyrics.com
1. Googoosh, Arian Band, Sirvan Khosravi
2. Describe the percentage of fusion. More
◦ Middle east
◦ North Africa
◦ Europe
◦ Russia
◦ United states
and Russia
A religious state
A religion and a culture
40% of world’s jews live in Israel
Law of Return
CANTILLATION
◦ Method of chanting biblical texts
◦ Non-metric melodies
Music as National Identity
Music in Israel is an integral part of national
identity.
worship service
singing the traditional prayers WITH guitarist
and keyboard
Notes from a Rabbi
Historic perspective
Hebrews, Israelites: biblical people
Jews, Israelis: contemporary people
Cantor:
trained vocal specialist who learns and sings the
Yiddish:
cultural language –vernacular
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvCuk_Uz
Eaw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jsseGcvV
rw&feature=related
Another take
Andy Statman Quartet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv8cj71X
Vsw&feature=related
Cultural Musical Distinctions
“Jewish” music is a product of the
geographical location and religious culture of
the people.
Piano
Examples
Jewish music from Israel sounds different
from Eastern Europe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hR5xlmkv
fc8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGTPd6S-
3SM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmuepZ6J
74A&feature=related
Debbie Friedman
Singer/Songwriter
Clearly influenced by 1960’s American culture
Lots of influences
Let’s listen!
Miriam’s song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZdSEsZ8
bMo
Liturgical Sounds
◦ Songs, chants: how Jews observe worship
Cultural Sounds
◦ From the community (ex. Poland, Israel)
Recordings used
Music of the Jewish Baroque
◦ Salamone Rossi, c. 1570-1630
Treasures of Klezmer, 1908-1996
Metropolitan Klezmer
Andy Statman, Songs of Our Fathers
The Idan Raichel
LISTENING QUIZ: NIYAZ
eastern songs
Location/sand
#4 Idan Raichel Yemen
Dreadlocks
Headcovering
Subtle harmony
Modern context
He looked invested—prayerful/spiritual
Listening #5Khandan: not music
No instruments
One male
Ornamentation
Improvisation
No meter/no beat
Khandan or Musiqi WHY?
Chordophone/instrument
No language No singing No chanting
Sounded complicated
Metered—rhythmically organized