Middle Eastern Flashcards
Abdel Halim Hafez
Egyptian singer. Also an actor and teacher.
Arabian/Cairo
Arian
Aryan is a term meaning “noble” which was used as a self-designation by Indo-Iranian people.
(Iran)
Mercan Dede
Turkish composer, DJ-er and producer. Fuses traditional Turkish music with electronic sounds.
(Turkey)
Umm Kalthum
the most popular classical Arab/Egyptian singer of all time.
sings Al Ward Gami
(Arabian/Cairo)
iqa’la
Arabian rhythm (over 100) (Arabian/Cairo)
darrabuka
a single head goblet shaped body used mostly in the Middle East
(Arabian/Cairo)
Mevlevi sema
A religious ceremony which includes a dancer (Mevlevi) that whirls
(Turkey)
Natacha Atlas
an Egyptian-Belgian singer known for her fusion of Arabic and Western music, particularly hip-hop.
(Egypt)
azan
a “sung” Muslim call to prayer (not really a song)
Muslims are called to prayer five times a day.
(Arabian/Cairo)
qanun
a “lap-harp”
Arabian/Cairo
maqam
arabain mode with rules organised into a series of modes, based on 24 quarter-steps.
Each of these modes has its own ethos; perhaps associated with a particular mood, time of day or season
(Arabian/Cairo)
oud
short-neck lute-type, pear-shaped stringed instrument with today 11 or 13 strings grouped in 5 or 6 courses
(Arabian/Cairo)
nay
a wooden flute
Arabian/Cairo
kamancheh
a bowed spike fiddle played in front of the musician. It has a distinctive taut nasal sound, with a touch of sandy grit. It is the forerunner of the European violin.
(Iran)
Arian
Is the first Persian pop band consisting of both male and female singers and players in Iran after the Iranian Revolution.
(Iran)
Mohammed Reza Shajarian
Is the nightingale supreme of Iranian music, a living legend whose superb technical skill, warm vocal style and vast knowledge of classical Iranian poetry have made him the most successful singer in the country.
(Iran)
Googoosh
stage name for an Iranian singer/actress known for her contributions to Iranian pop music.
(Iran)
arabesk
Popular music genre that started in the 1960s, very melancholic lyrics
Short for “Arab,” unrelated to the term arabesque
(Turkey)
Googoosh
The most popular pre-Revolutionary pop singer, who chose to stay in Iran even though she was unable to perform there. In 2000 she left Iran and after about 20 years of silence toured North America and Europe to ecstatic audiences in packed stadiums and concert halls.
(Iran)
tombak
The tombak, or zarb, is a goblet drum played with the fingers and plams of both hands and held diagonally across the player’s lap.
(Iran)
Kayhan Kalhor
an Iranian Kamancheh player, composer and master of classical Kurdish and Iranian traditional music.
(Iran)
mawal
An extended vocal improvisation at the begining of a song
Egypt
shaabi
An Egyptian musical genre. It is a form of popular working-class music which evolved from baladi in the second half of the 20th century. (Egypt)
santur
Is a dulcimer, usually positioned on a small table in front of the musician who strikes the strings with two felted hammers.
(Iran)
