#MIDDLE EASTERN STRINGED INSTRUMENTS SKIN#

Many instruments originate in the Middle East region. 4 Geographical varieties of the music in the Middle East that is not in the Arabic language.3.1 Geographical varieties of the music in the Arabic-speaking regions of the Middle East.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. Traditional Middle Eastern music does not use chords, or harmony in the Western sense. Further distinguishing characteristics of Middle Eastern and North African music include very complex rhythmic structures, generally tense vocal tone, and a monophonic texture. Unlike much western music, Arabic music includes quarter tones halfway between notes, often through the use of stringed instruments (like the oud) or the human voice. While this originates with classical music, the modal system has filtered down into folk, liturgical and even popular music, with influence from the West. This is similar to the dastgah of Persian music. Systema ametabolon, enharmonium, chromatikon, diatonon). The early Arabs translated and developed Greek texts and works of music and mastered the musical theory of the music of ancient Greece (i.e. maqam) or modes (also known as makam in Turkish music). The Arabic scale is strongly melodic, based on various maqamat (sing. The predominance of Islam allowed a great deal of Arabic, and Byzantine influence to spread through the region rapidly from the 7th century onward. Throughout the region, religion has been a common factor in uniting peoples of different languages, cultures and nations. It is widely regarded that some Middle-Eastern musical styles have influenced Central Asia, as well as Spain, and the Balkans. The Zurna – is a horn used in Turkish folk music, which looks like a wooden trumpet.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, Kurdish music, Azeri Music, the varied traditions of Cypriot music, the music of Turkey, traditional Assyrian music, Coptic ritual music in Egypt as well as other genres of Egyptian music in general, and the Andalusian (Muslim Spain) music very much alive in the greater Middle East (North Africa), all maintain their own traditions. The Mizmar – is another wind instrument of the oboe family and is used in a lot of belly dance music, especially in saidi style music.

The Zumara (also, zummara or zummar) – is a reed instrument, a type of double clarinet. The Kawala (also known as shalabeya) – is a flute made from reeds similar to a nay. The Oud (or ud) – is a lute, with a pear-shaped body The Saz – belongs to the lute family and it has strings, a long neck and a round body. Throughout the Middle East and Africa, as well as northern India, Central Asia and Southeast Asia, the word rabab refers to a spike fiddle, one that has a small round or cylindrical body and a narrow neck. The rebaba’s body can be either square or pear-shaped and it has two or three strings played with a bow and stopped by the player’s fingers (like a violin). The rababa is used all over the Middle East, in Morocco and in various parts of Asia. The Rababa (also rebaba) – can have different shapes according to the area where it is played. The kanun is made of wood, fish skin, nylon chords that are plucked by the musician and metal keys to tune the chords (5 keys in the Arabic qanun and up to 8 in the Turkish version). The Kanoun (also kanun or qanun) – is a string instrument, which resembles the harp in terms of sound. Sagat can also be spelt zagat, while zils can be spelt zills. The Sagat (Arabic) or Zils (Turkish) – are the finger cymbals, which are sometimes played by belly dancers whilst performing. The Tar (also called def) – is a large frame drum, like a large tambourine.

#MIDDLE EASTERN STRINGED INSTRUMENTS SKIN#

The Riqq (also spelt riq or rik) – is a small tambourine, traditionally covered with goat or fish skin and equipped with brass cymbals around the edge. The dumbek is also called darbuka in Turkey and tablah in Egypt.Ī famous Egyptian tablah player who currently lives in the UK and who tours around the world to teach and perform is Hossam Ramzy.

The Dumbek (also spelt dumbec, doumbek, doumbec or dumbak) – this is the goblet shaped drum, which gives its distinctive rhythms to Middle Eastern and bellydance music.

Middle eastern stringed instruments