Palestinian Music Flashcards
What is the melody?
- Lots of Palestinian music contains only melody and rhythm, with chords and other harmonic devices coming into play when music is combined with other traditions.
- Arabic melodies are based on MAQAM and IMPROVISATION is an important feature.
what sort of instruments do they use?
-Relies on traditional instruments, Arabic music uses microtones so can’t be utilized properly on western instruments.
what sort of scales do they use?
-Arabic music is often based on a maqam ( type of scale/mode often accompanied by a DRONE) which is divided into microtones. The closest scale in Western music which resembles this is the double harmonic scale also called the Arabic scale:
C,D flat,E,F,G,A flat,B,C.
what is an oud?
-Oud (melody makers and drones), in Arabic music songs are often accompanied by it- it’s a pear-shaped stringed instrument, similar in the construction to the European lute. There are many different types of oud and typically they use 11 strings, tuned in 5 pairs with one ‘drone’ string(functions as both an accompaniment and a melody instrument and is played with a pick.)
what are “arabic rhythm makers”
Arabic rhythm makers- the doumbeck/darbuka is one of the many goblet-shaped drums found in Arabic and Middle Eastern music, compared with the African djembe(goblet-shaped) it is played with a lighter touch and can produce an even greater range of sounds.
how do you play a doumbeck?
-Doumbeck players often use their fingertips to create drum rolls and other percussive sounds
what is the tempo?
improvisation is an important feature and you will often hear a piece begin with an improvisation, free of tempo, and becoming more structured as the piece continues.
fast- designed for dancing
what are the 3 main sounds associated with the doumbeck?
Doum (D)
Tek (T)
Ka (K)
what is the Doum (D)?
a low-tone played in the center with the right hand
what is a Tek (T)?
a high-tone played on the edge with the right hand
What is a Ka(K)?
a high-tone played on the edge with the left hand
what is the rhythmic pattern in arabic music?
-A rhythmic pattern in Arabic music is called a wazn ( there are hundreds of them, of differing lengths and in different time signatures)
what is a maqsum?
Maqsum is a basic rhythm that occurs throughout theMiddle East
what is saldi?
-Saldi is an upbeat folk rhythm
what is the texture?
-The oud can play a drone that accompanies the melody ,much like in the Indian style of music
