MUSIC OF THE MIDDLE EAST

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MUSIC OF THE MIDDLE EAST
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Major Cultural Influences

• Persian culture (Iran, speak Farsi, adheres to
  Shia interpretation of Islam historic Persian
  Empire)
• Arabic culture (Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq
  Lebanon, Egypt, Kuwait speak Arabic)
• Turkish culture (Turkey, present day Afghanistan
  speak Turkic historic Ottoman Empire)

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Persian Empire (550 BC 651 AD)
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Influence of Islam

• Arose in Arabia in 7th century was unifying
  force among Arabic tribes. Arabic language and
  culture begin to absorb Persian.

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The Ottoman Empire (1299-1922)
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Major Religions
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Islam and Music

• Koranic chant. Emphasis on written word (Koran is
  revealed word of God). Koran is important source
  for poetry, literature and song texts.
• Example of Koranic chant.
• No tradition of instrumental religious music or
  religious dance (with exception of some sects).

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Classical Music of Iran
TAR
NEY
KAMANCHE
SANTOUR
ZARB / DONBAK
SETAR
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Persian Carpets
Persian Calligraphy
Persian miniature (Tabriz School, 13th cent.)
EXAMPLES OF PERSIAN ART FORMS
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Khandan/Musiqi Continuum
Musiqi
Khandan
Unacceptable
Acceptable
Dance music (esp. belly dance) Highly
rhythmic Precomposed Professional Ensemble Instrum
ental
Chant Unmetered Improvised Amateur Solo Vocal
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Persian Classical Music

• Transmitted in private concerts.
• Role of improvisation.
• Texture monophonic or heterophonic.
• Melodies usually ornamented.
• Tense vocal quality.
• Section of concert devoted to one dastgah

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Music Theory

• Dastgah
• a mode, similar to Greek modes (but not limited
  to half and whole steps)
• 7 primary, 5 secondary
• Basis for composition and improvisation
• Includes pitches, scale patterns, melodic essence
  (motif). Each has descriptive name and associated
  character
• Gusheh
• subdivision of a dastgah central nuclear
  melody
• Radif
• Repertoire of several hundred melodies or gushehs
  in all 12 dastgahs memorized by students and used
  as basis for improvisation and composition

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DASTGAH SHUR SELECTED GUSHES (melodic motifs)
http//www.dejkam.com/music/iran_traditional/about
/
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Classical Concerts

• Section of concert explores a particular dastgah
  (usu. five instrumental or vocal pieces)
• Concerts
• Open with rhythmic introductory piece (like
  Pishdaramad)
• Avaz (improvised, nonmetric) (considered high
  point of concert)
• Concluding section (rhythmic dance or light vocal)

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Traditional 19th century Iranian court musicians
playing kamanche, dombak, dayere, tar, santour
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Indian and Persian Classical Music

• Similarities
• use complex system of pitches
• have long history of performance and theoretical
  writings about music
• Monophonic or heterophinc
• Transmitted in concerts
• Passed on in oral tradition
• Incorporate improvisation and composition

• Differences
• Persian tradition has no equivalent of tala
• Ambivalent attitude of Islam towards music