To those who are unaccustomed to the music of the Middle East, it may all sound very similar. But much like the music of the western world, Arab music is quite varied and made up of many distinct styles. The Arab world has a rich musical history dating back to the tenth century with the writings of the philosopher al-Farabi.
Melody is the primary organizer in Arab music, and it is based on modes that sound different from the major and minor scales of western music. Western music divides the octave into twelve equal half steps, but Arab modes include notes that fall between these half steps. These are notes that can not be played by many western instruments, and to those who are unfamiliar with the modes, they may sound out of tune – but they are, in fact, very carefully tuned.
One of the primary goals of Arab music is to achieve a state of tarab – a state in which the performer and the listener are united with the music. Achieving tarab requires intense concentration and a deep understanding of the music.
Islam is a widespread religion in the middle east, and although some Islamic sects ban the use of music, others have integrated music into their worship. The Sufis are one such sect. Sufi musicians in southeast Asia perform a style of devotional music known as qawwali.
Middle Eastern music makes use of a variety of instruments including strings, woodwinds, and percussion.
- The oud is a popular instrument with plucked strings, played in a manner similar to the guitar.
- Common percussion instruments include the doumbek (a type of hand drum), finger cymbals, and a relative of the tambourine, called a riq.
- Bamboo flutes are common in Middle Eastern music, as are double reed instruments like the rhaita, which is similar to an oboe.
The use of these instruments dates back thousands of years. A more recent addition to Middle Eastern music is the harmonium, a keyboard instrument similar to a reed organ.
