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Middle Eastern music, music of the Arabic-, Turkish-, and Persian-speaking world. Despite three major languages and associated cultural differences, the music can be seen as a single great tradition because of the unifying element of Islam.
- Maqām
maqām, in music of the Middle East and parts of North...
- Timbrel
Other articles where timbrel is discussed: percussion...
- Rhythmic Mode
During the 12th century, the tempo of most of the notated...
- Oud
oud, stringed musical instrument prominent in medieval and...
- Maqām
Middle Eastern music. 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. Azeri Music, the varied traditions of Cypriot music, the Turkish music of Turkey, traditional Assyrian music, Coptic ritual music in ...
- 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 traditional music is a genre that is deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of the region. It is characterized by the use of unique instruments such as the oud, qanun, and ney, and is often accompanied by poetic lyrics that reflect the rich history and traditions of the Middle East.
maqām, in music of the Middle East and parts of North Africa, a set of pitches and of characteristic melodic elements, or motifs, and a traditional pattern of their use. Maqām is the principal melodic concept in Middle Eastern musical thought and practice (parallel to īqāʿāt in rhythm).
Mar 3, 2024 · Here are the traditional saz and other musical instruments of the Middle East: 1. Oud: Oud, one of the most well-known and oldest instruments of the Middle East, is widely played in Lebanon,...
