Write An Essay On Hispanic Music
Jason Mubaslat
Music 110
Mr. Noel
Arabic Music History and More
The tradition of Arabic music has been cultivated throughout Arab regions for thousands of years. Although it has undergone many changes over the centuries, it has retained certain distinctive traits. The Arabic music tradition developed in the courts of dynasties in the Islamic empire from the 5th century to the 7th century. It flourished during the Umayyad dynasty in the 7th century and 8th century in Syria. This era was known as the Jahilliyyah period which actually means the “period of ignorance” because society believed music and poetry was for magicians and exorcists. They believed “Jinn’s” who could be related to present day genies would reveal poems & magicians …show more content…
There are some genres of Arabic music that are polyphonic, but typically Arabic music is homophonic. The main reason why harmony is rarely used is that chords don’t sound very pleasant when they include quarter tones. Also, rhythmic structure of Arabic music is similarly complex. Rhythmic patterns can have up to 48 beats and typically include several downbeats (called dums) as well as upbeats (called taks) including silences, or rests. To grasp a rhythmic mode, the listener must hear a relatively long pattern. Moreover, the performers do not simply play the pattern; they elaborate upon and ornament it. Often the pattern is recognizable by the arrangement of downbeats. Arabic performers are also known for putting on very good performances. In Arab tradition, good musicians offer something new in each performance by varying and improvising on known pieces or models in a fashion similar to that of jazz musicians. The inventions of musicians can be lengthy, extending ten-minute compositions into hour-long performances that allow only a thin resemblance to the models. The inventions of the musician traditionally depend upon the response of the audience. Listeners are expected to react during the performance, either verbally or with applause. Quiet is interpreted as disinterest or dislike. The audience members, especially in this tradition, are active participants in determining the length of the performance and in shaping the piece of music by encouraging musicians to either repeat a section of the piece or to move to the next section. Born of the cultures of the Arab World stretching from Morocco in the west to Iraq in the east, Arabic music is becoming popular world-wide. It is made up of an interesting variety of folk, classical, and popular musical traditions. Many of these have survived for centuries, reflecting the musical feelings
Music 110
Mr. Noel
Arabic Music History and More
The tradition of Arabic music has been cultivated throughout Arab regions for thousands of years. Although it has undergone many changes over the centuries, it has retained certain distinctive traits. The Arabic music tradition developed in the courts of dynasties in the Islamic empire from the 5th century to the 7th century. It flourished during the Umayyad dynasty in the 7th century and 8th century in Syria. This era was known as the Jahilliyyah period which actually means the “period of ignorance” because society believed music and poetry was for magicians and exorcists. They believed “Jinn’s” who could be related to present day genies would reveal poems & magicians …show more content…
There are some genres of Arabic music that are polyphonic, but typically Arabic music is homophonic. The main reason why harmony is rarely used is that chords don’t sound very pleasant when they include quarter tones. Also, rhythmic structure of Arabic music is similarly complex. Rhythmic patterns can have up to 48 beats and typically include several downbeats (called dums) as well as upbeats (called taks) including silences, or rests. To grasp a rhythmic mode, the listener must hear a relatively long pattern. Moreover, the performers do not simply play the pattern; they elaborate upon and ornament it. Often the pattern is recognizable by the arrangement of downbeats. Arabic performers are also known for putting on very good performances. In Arab tradition, good musicians offer something new in each performance by varying and improvising on known pieces or models in a fashion similar to that of jazz musicians. The inventions of musicians can be lengthy, extending ten-minute compositions into hour-long performances that allow only a thin resemblance to the models. The inventions of the musician traditionally depend upon the response of the audience. Listeners are expected to react during the performance, either verbally or with applause. Quiet is interpreted as disinterest or dislike. The audience members, especially in this tradition, are active participants in determining the length of the performance and in shaping the piece of music by encouraging musicians to either repeat a section of the piece or to move to the next section. Born of the cultures of the Arab World stretching from Morocco in the west to Iraq in the east, Arabic music is becoming popular world-wide. It is made up of an interesting variety of folk, classical, and popular musical traditions. Many of these have survived for centuries, reflecting the musical feelings