Search results
People also ask
What is traditional Middle Eastern music?
What are the characteristics of Middle Eastern and North African music?
What percussion instruments are used in Middle Eastern music?
What are the characteristics of Arabic music?
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 طرب tarraba .
- Oud
- Ney
- Buzuq
- Kawala
- Sagat
- Simsimiyya
- Mizmar
- Manjur
- Qanun
- Riq
The Oudis probably one of the oldest Arabic musical instruments. It’s called the “grandfather of the guitar” because it is one of the precursors to the modern guitar. This type of lute is a fretless stringed instrument shaped like a pear. It is short-necked as well, consisting of 11 strings grouped in twos and a single bass string. Compared to its ...
Our next Arabic instrument is called a Ney. It is a type of end-blown flute that has been used in the Arab world for more than 4500 years making it one of the oldest instruments in the world. The traditional Ney was made of a hollow cane or reed with six holes for the fingers and another for the thumb. The modern ones are made of metal or wood. The...
The Buzuqis another string instrument from the oud family, but it’s considerably smaller with a thin long, fretted neck. The strings on the Buzuq are made of metal and played with a thin piece of horn. Modern Buzuqs have their strings arranged in three courses to expand their range. Buzuq has metallic pegs for tuning, and the player can manipulate ...
Our next Arabic instrument, the Kawala, is a cane flute that resembles the Ney. The main difference is that the Kawala is shorter with six holes, while the Ney has seven. The Kwala was originally used as a shepherd’s tool. It’s widely used in Egyptian folk music and is currently used in religious ceremonies and weddings. To play the Kawala, one has...
Up next is Sagat, is an arabic percussion instrument. The Sagat or Sajat are Egyptian brass finger cymbals that have been traditionally used in Ancient Egypt and throughout North Africa. They’re usually sold in sets of four. The player or singer will wear a pair on the thumb and third finger, and they’re secured using elastic bands. Each sagat meas...
We are featuring next an indigenous stringed instrument from Egypt. Simsimiyyais a type of hand-plucked lyre made of beech wood. It has steel strings and a movable bridge, its shape similar to a harp. The instrument features a trapeze-shaped soundboard. It has 14 strings attached to the trapeze and to a carved branch with 14 wooden nails for tuning...
Coming up next is the Mizmar, a single or double-reed instrument that traveled from Ancient Egypt to other parts of the world. This is usually played in ensembles known as tabl baladi. This consists of several Mizmars and two double-sided drums accompanying them. In the old days, these ensembles were hired to play in various gatherings such as wedd...
The Manjur is an unusual percussion instrument that is widely used in Eastern Arabia. It’s made of goat hooves that are attached to a cloth or mesh bag. The player will tie the bag around his waist and shake his hips to produce the beats. When the hooves hit each other, it produces a rattling sound to accompany other musical instruments. This is a ...
The Qanunor kanoon is a traditional stringed instrument that’s either played solo or as part of an Arabic music ensemble. Traditionally, it was first used in the Old Assyrian Empire, where it was made of a box of elephant ivory. In Arabic, qanunmeans “rules.” It comes from the fact that this instrument usually sets the pace for other instruments in...
Another percussion instrument on our list is the Riq(sometimes spelled as riqq). It looks like a tambourine but is played differently. Traditionally, the Riq had a wooden frame, but today the frame is made of metal. It is usually 9″ in diameter. It also features five double jingle pairs and a thin head made of goat and fish skin. The Riq was histor...
The music in Iraq began to take a more Western tone during the 1960s and 1970s, notably by Ilham Madfai, with his Western guitar stylings with traditional Iraqi music which made him a popular performer in his native country and throughout the Middle East.
Middle Eastern music is built on the maqam system, a set of melodic modes with unique scales and characters. These modes use microtones and monophonic textures, creating a distinct sound. The music also features complex rhythms called iqa'at, which drive the music forward. Improvisation is key in Middle Eastern music, with
Middle Eastern music boasts a rich history spanning millennia, influenced by ancient civilizations and the Islamic Golden Age. Its rhythms, based on iqa' patterns, form the foundation of diverse genres. Key instruments like the oud and nay create distinctive timbres.
Arab classical music traditions have deep roots in Middle Eastern, North African, and Mediterranean cultures. Developed over centuries, this rich musical heritage flourished during the Islamic Golden Age and continued to evolve under Ottoman influence.
It is widely regarded that some Middle-Eastern musical styles have influenced Central Asia, as well as the Balkans and Spain. The various nations of the region include the Arabic-speaking countries of the Middle East, the Iranian traditions of Persia, the Jewish music of Israel and the diaspora, Armenian music.
