Musical Instruments Used in The Arab World

Mahmoud El Gersha



What are the Instruments used in the Arabic music?

As you know, not every instrument can be used to play all the Arabic maqamat. So many artists before have created and chosen instruments that can play the maqamat, for example the violin has been brought from outside the Arab world many years ago and have been used to play the Arabic maqam, but it has a different tune than the western violin. As you all know that the Oud instrument has come from the Arab world and it is the main instrument to the Arabic music.

The Instruments used in the Arabic music:

·         Oud

·         Violin

·         Qanun

·         Nay (Air instrument same as the flute)

·         Riq (which is used for the rhythm made with cymbals)

·         Eqa'a (Which is used for the rhythm)

These are the main instruments used in the Arabic music, but there are many other instruments that are made by Arab people and some people still use these instruments but they are not well known. Did you listen to one of these instruments? Express your feeling by completing this survey.

 

 

 

Maqam Family

Farid El Atrash

Maqam Family

Types of maqamat:

There are 9 types of maqamat and each one of these maqams has its own family of different branches but goes back to its main maqam. Each of these braches has a slightly different melody from each other, but you can notice by listening that these different branches have something in common that takes it back to its main maqam.

The 9 types of maqamat are:

·         Ajam

·         Bayat

·         Hijaz

·         Kurd

·         Nahawand

·         Nawa ather

·         Rast

·         Saba

·         Sekah

These 9 types of maqamat are different from each other and have different sound that makes each one of them unique. Each one these maqamat has branches of their own which makes them a family, but these maqamat are the main. These maqamat have Arabic sound which makes them unique and different from other melody, because it has quarter tones which is different from the western music because it does not have quarter tones. More information about the quarter notes.

The maqam branches:

The number of branches in each maqam is different in each one of them, for example there is a maqam that has 10 branches and another maqam has 4. These maqamat came from different countries in the Arab world and their branches came from different places the country that has slightly different tones that made the whole maqam divide into different branches.

The maqam and their families:

1.      Ajam family: Ajam, Jihar kah, Ajam oshairan, Shouq faza, Al Mazmoum.

2.      Bayat family: Bayat, Hussaini, Hussaini oshairan, Nahfat, Bayat shory.

3.      Hijaz family: Hijaz, Hijaz ajmy, Hijaz kar, Shahnaz, Shad arban, Turkish Jihar kah, Sozdel, Zanjran.

4.      Kurd family: Kurd, Hijaz kar kurd, Tarznwen, Al Lamy.

5.      Nahawand family: Nahawand, Nahawand kurdi, Sultani yaqah, Farah faza, Boslek, Sumbulah, Ushaq Egyptian.

6.      Nawa ather family: Nawa ather, Nakreez, Ather kurd, Hesaar.

7.      Rast family: Rast, Yaqah, Suznak, Neroz, Mahour, Suzdalara.

8.      Saba family: Saba, Saba zemzem, Saba boslek, Saba oshairan.

9.      Sekah family: Sekah, Huzam, Rahat Al arwah (Soul rest), Iraq, Bastenkar, Musta'ar, Sekah baladi, Farahnak, Maya, Mukalef.

These are the maqam family and I am going to play a taqsim with an Oud instrument to show you one of these maqamat. The maqam I will be playing a taqsim on is the Hijaz. Email me if you need to ask me any question.

What is a Maqam

Musical Notes

 

 

What is a maqam?

The definition of maqam:

Arabic maqam is the system of melodic modes used in traditional Arabic music, which is mainly melodic. The word maqam in Arabic means place, location or position. The Arabic maqam is a melody type. It is "a technique of improvisation" that defines the pitches, patterns, and development of a piece of music and which is "unique to Arabian art music." There are seventy two heptatonic tone rows or scales of maqamat. These are constructed from major, neutral, and minor seconds (see Arab tone system). Each maqam is built on a scale, and carries a tradition that defines its habitual phrases, important notes, melodic development and modulation. Both compositions and improvisations in traditional Arabic music are based on the maqam system. Maqamat can be realized with either vocal or instrumental music, and do not include a rhythmic component.