Argh wth I will put it in the next entry.
Here I will put up pictures relating to IMPACT.
Sidetrack!!! I like this
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Developmentz_part 2
So I go about in researching pictures about objects shattering or broken objects or anything related to impact. I did quite a lot of sketches but I'm not sure whether to put it here coz it will be in my keynote.
Argh wth I will put it in the next entry.
Here I will put up pictures relating to IMPACT.
Sidetrack!!! I like this
Argh wth I will put it in the next entry.
Here I will put up pictures relating to IMPACT.
Sidetrack!!! I like this
Concept!!
YEZ now I have a concept!!! My concept is IMPACT! ok let me elabourate more on that. Basically, my clip will be all about impact and forcing objects to the ground. This will include objects shattering and a collision with different objects. Reason being is that since its for baybeats, I want to create something that is fast-paced and a little violent. ANd, I will film the object from underneath, like literally fitting the theme 'Underground Experiment'.
Developmentz
So slowly, I religiously go to motionographer.com for inspiration (thankz to agnotti). And yeah, you can easily get inspired and ideas by viewing other works there.
And I'll tell you a secret. During the first part of our fyp 2, I wanted so badly to do something like this ----> http://surfacefilm.com/
But I don't have the time as when I discovered that website, I only have a week left before submission. And now, I think that I can do something like that for baybeats as it is relevant and very experimental.
Interestingly, I found a VERY similar video to surface film, but I feel its much better!
or u can watch here ---> http://www.favoritecolor.tv/work/bda09001/index.html
Or I can do a paper-cut out look-alike like this ----> http://motionographer.com/theater/mtv-movie-awards-2009/?detectqt=false
or
http://www.artofthetitle.com/
Now I'm all hyped up to start this project!!
And I'll tell you a secret. During the first part of our fyp 2, I wanted so badly to do something like this ----> http://surfacefilm.com/
But I don't have the time as when I discovered that website, I only have a week left before submission. And now, I think that I can do something like that for baybeats as it is relevant and very experimental.
Interestingly, I found a VERY similar video to surface film, but I feel its much better!
or u can watch here ---> http://www.favoritecolor.tv/work/bda09001/index.html
Or I can do a paper-cut out look-alike like this ----> http://motionographer.com/theater/mtv-movie-awards-2009/?detectqt=false
or
http://www.artofthetitle.com/
Now I'm all hyped up to start this project!!
Baybeats Project!
Ok at first, I don't really have a clue to what I am doing. So I just take references here and there from the net and do some photoshopping, which u can say doesn't make sense. But you know, sometimes we need to do this thing just to get a start.
These are some of the reference that I kind of like.
I'll upload MORE later. Right now, I did some photoshop-ing. This is what I get if I do without thinking. Basically since i do not have a concept yet, I just DO.
These are some of the reference that I kind of like.
I'll upload MORE later. Right now, I did some photoshop-ing. This is what I get if I do without thinking. Basically since i do not have a concept yet, I just DO.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Belly Dance_part 2
POPULARIZATION OF BELLY DANCE (Raqs Sharqi)
Outside the Middle East, raqs sharqi dancing was popularized during the Romantic movement of the 18th and 19th centuries, whereby Orientalist artists depicted their interpretations of harem life in the Ottoman Empire.
Ok so I can conclude that the raqs sharqi is all about sensuality, or its depicted as sensuality. Ok, a new idea for my fyp.
Outside the Middle East, raqs sharqi dancing was popularized during the Romantic movement of the 18th and 19th centuries, whereby Orientalist artists depicted their interpretations of harem life in the Ottoman Empire.
Ok so I can conclude that the raqs sharqi is all about sensuality, or its depicted as sensuality. Ok, a new idea for my fyp.
Belly Dance
INTRO: Belly Dance in also known as 'Middle Eastern' or 'Arabic Dance' In the US. In Turkish, it is known as Çiftetelli.
Belly dancing was originally from Ancient Babylon in southern Iraq. Adnanite Arabs introduced belly dancing and drumming. It was passed on from generation to generation. The drum beats people hear today are the same beats that the Arab tribal men used. Before the arrival of Islam the tribes in Arabia used to gather women in private gatherings or special occasions and perform the belly-dancing, while men from the tribe perform on the drum. Men used to have large feasts of food and wine and watch women while they were dancing.
FUN FACTS
Historically, most of the dances associated with belly dance were performed with the sexes separated; men with men and women with women. Few depictions of mixed dancing exist. This practice ensured that a "good" woman would not be seen dancing by anyone but her husband, her close family, or her female friends. Today, sex segregation is not as strictly practiced in many urban areas, and sometimes both men and women will dance socially among close friends at a mixed function.
GENERAL:There are 2 forms of belly dance, Raqs Baladi and Raqs Sharqi.
RAQS BALADI (The term baladi, as it refers to rhythm, is the backbone of oriental music)
Baladi is the most ancient and original form of Egyptian solo dance. Raqs baladi is a social dance performed for fun and celebration by men and women of all ages, usually during festive occasions and social gatherings such as parties and weddings. It is an improvisational dance integrated with the rhythm of the music. Baladi dancers traditionally wear an ankle length, baladi dress with a coordinating hip scarf.Musicians as well as dancers typically improvise within a loose framework, which makes the style truly original.
It uses a style called the saidi style which can be traced back to the 'raks tahhtyb' dance, which is a men's combat dance performed with a large stick. This evolved into the woman's raks assaya, or cane dance, which is more delicate and coquettish than the male counterpart. And would later be used as a costume for belly dancing after improvisation.
Saidi Style
THE COSTUME
The woman's costuming for raks baladi is an ankle-length, tight-fitting tunic called a baladi dress, and worn with a scarf or fringed belt tied low around the hips. This is different from the oriental or sharqi costume which consists of the jeweled/beaded/sequined bra and belt with skirt and veil.
NOTE!
Raqs Baladi costume
BELLY DANCE
Videos of the Baladi dance
I cant find any good quality videos of it.
RAQS SHARQI
The more popular and more theatrical in the West today is Raqs Sharqi. Its performed by both male and female dancers. From the raqs baladi has evolved the raqs sharqi or "oriental dance" (what we refer to as more popular/modern bellydance).
Raqs Sharqi translates as "The Dance of The East", or "Oriental Dance", although only Egyptian dance is technically Raqs Sharqi.This dance is pre-Islamic and is an oral tradition which has changed over the centuries. Some people believe that it originated as a fertility or Goddess worshipping dance, and in North Africa it can still be used to help during childbirth.
Many see Raqs Sharqi as a woman's dance, celebrating the sensuality and power of being a mature woman.
THE STYLE
This style is more balletic, with smaller movements, isolation and lyrical, expressive arms and upper torso. The arms in Sharqi are straighter and more expressive, describing slow, airy patterns around the dancer. Sharqi is more of a theatre dance, requiring space for large gliding steps and spins. The dancer can go very low down, in a wider stance than other styles of Egyptian dance. Courtly classical is a variation which is more sensual, with heavier elbows.
THE COSTUME
The costume is very refined in Sharqi. One or two circular skirts are worn, with a beaded hip scarf, and a fitted top. Sometimes the belly can be seen through a body stocking. Egyptian dancers are not allowed to show their uncovered belly. Jewellery is small and the hair is put up, off the face. The veil is lightweight and can be rectangular, semicircular or like butterfly wings.
Belly dancing was originally from Ancient Babylon in southern Iraq. Adnanite Arabs introduced belly dancing and drumming. It was passed on from generation to generation. The drum beats people hear today are the same beats that the Arab tribal men used. Before the arrival of Islam the tribes in Arabia used to gather women in private gatherings or special occasions and perform the belly-dancing, while men from the tribe perform on the drum. Men used to have large feasts of food and wine and watch women while they were dancing.
FUN FACTS
Historically, most of the dances associated with belly dance were performed with the sexes separated; men with men and women with women. Few depictions of mixed dancing exist. This practice ensured that a "good" woman would not be seen dancing by anyone but her husband, her close family, or her female friends. Today, sex segregation is not as strictly practiced in many urban areas, and sometimes both men and women will dance socially among close friends at a mixed function.
GENERAL:There are 2 forms of belly dance, Raqs Baladi and Raqs Sharqi.
RAQS BALADI (The term baladi, as it refers to rhythm, is the backbone of oriental music)
Baladi is the most ancient and original form of Egyptian solo dance. Raqs baladi is a social dance performed for fun and celebration by men and women of all ages, usually during festive occasions and social gatherings such as parties and weddings. It is an improvisational dance integrated with the rhythm of the music. Baladi dancers traditionally wear an ankle length, baladi dress with a coordinating hip scarf.Musicians as well as dancers typically improvise within a loose framework, which makes the style truly original.
It uses a style called the saidi style which can be traced back to the 'raks tahhtyb' dance, which is a men's combat dance performed with a large stick. This evolved into the woman's raks assaya, or cane dance, which is more delicate and coquettish than the male counterpart. And would later be used as a costume for belly dancing after improvisation.
Saidi Style
THE COSTUME
The woman's costuming for raks baladi is an ankle-length, tight-fitting tunic called a baladi dress, and worn with a scarf or fringed belt tied low around the hips. This is different from the oriental or sharqi costume which consists of the jeweled/beaded/sequined bra and belt with skirt and veil.
NOTE!
Raqs Baladi costume
BELLY DANCE
Videos of the Baladi dance
I cant find any good quality videos of it.
RAQS SHARQI
The more popular and more theatrical in the West today is Raqs Sharqi. Its performed by both male and female dancers. From the raqs baladi has evolved the raqs sharqi or "oriental dance" (what we refer to as more popular/modern bellydance).
Raqs Sharqi translates as "The Dance of The East", or "Oriental Dance", although only Egyptian dance is technically Raqs Sharqi.This dance is pre-Islamic and is an oral tradition which has changed over the centuries. Some people believe that it originated as a fertility or Goddess worshipping dance, and in North Africa it can still be used to help during childbirth.
Many see Raqs Sharqi as a woman's dance, celebrating the sensuality and power of being a mature woman.
THE STYLE
This style is more balletic, with smaller movements, isolation and lyrical, expressive arms and upper torso. The arms in Sharqi are straighter and more expressive, describing slow, airy patterns around the dancer. Sharqi is more of a theatre dance, requiring space for large gliding steps and spins. The dancer can go very low down, in a wider stance than other styles of Egyptian dance. Courtly classical is a variation which is more sensual, with heavier elbows.
THE COSTUME
The costume is very refined in Sharqi. One or two circular skirts are worn, with a beaded hip scarf, and a fitted top. Sometimes the belly can be seen through a body stocking. Egyptian dancers are not allowed to show their uncovered belly. Jewellery is small and the hair is put up, off the face. The veil is lightweight and can be rectangular, semicircular or like butterfly wings.
Middle Eastern Dance
I'm so intrigue by the culture of Middle Eastern that I've decided to include all the cultures aspects of middle eastern, not only the music. And today, I'm going to cover the topic on dance. Everybody knows the famous bellydance. So lets find out MORE! But first, lets cover the more general history of middle eastern dance.
HISTORY OF MIDDLE EASTERN DANCE
Middle Eastern Dance has many origins. It is possible that this dance can be traced back to Mesopotamia where temple engravings depicting dancers have been found. It is believed by many that this dance started as an ancient ritual dance for fertility and childbirth. The priestesses were sometimes "sacred prostitutes" where they would perform these dances for clients as they invoked the Goddess. Around 0 B.C. there were Greek writings that described Nile dancers as rapidly vibrating. There were even different classes of dancers.
Ghawazee and Gypsy dancers were street performers who were not very educated women.
Awalim Dancers. The person who sold these Awalim dancers are called Ustiz.
Almeh was a woman who had been trained in the art of dance and music. They often played the oud and even came with a list of songs and poems that they could play and recite for you.
Every class of dancers had a very different style of dance.
Factual stories that existed there.
During the Ottoman reign over Egypt there was a surge in tourism and many soldiers. The Ghawazee dancers of course saw this as a moneymaking opportunity and would follow camps of soldiers to dance for. This embarrassed and angered the ruler of the time who exiled the Ghawazee to Esna, which is in southern Egypt, to solve his problem.
The rise of Belly Dance
In the 1880’s, the dance had a boom in Europe, which was called Salome Dancing. This was partly inspired by Mata Hari who claimed to be an eastern dancer but who in fact was pretty much a glorified stripper. In the 1890’s, the worlds fair introduced Middle Eastern dance to the western world. They termed this dance belly dance to entice people to see it. At that time, it was very risqué to talk about a woman's hips because it brought to mind other things and so even belly was a strong word to use but was as much as they could get away with without getting into trouble. The dancers who danced at the worlds fair were not dressed as you would see most Middle Eastern dancers today. They were fully clothed in long dresses with simply a piece of cloth tied about their hips.
Hollywood was the beginning of this change. As with everything that comes out of Hollywood, costuming became much more glamorous. Old Hollywood films show women for the first time with bare midriffs, a fancy bra like top and an embellished belt around their waist. This style then traveled back to Egypt where they made the final transition to the costume of the day where they lowered the belt to sit at the hips instead of the waist. This showed the moves much better.
More interesting history could be found here http://middleeasterndance.homestead.com/History.html
On a side note, I was so amazed on how they portrayed the history. For some reason, it didn't bore me and I continuosly read it until the end. Maybe because of the language they used which seem more err... friendly? Or it could be I'm so into this Middle Eastern culture right now.
HISTORY OF MIDDLE EASTERN DANCE
Middle Eastern Dance has many origins. It is possible that this dance can be traced back to Mesopotamia where temple engravings depicting dancers have been found. It is believed by many that this dance started as an ancient ritual dance for fertility and childbirth. The priestesses were sometimes "sacred prostitutes" where they would perform these dances for clients as they invoked the Goddess. Around 0 B.C. there were Greek writings that described Nile dancers as rapidly vibrating. There were even different classes of dancers.
Ghawazee and Gypsy dancers were street performers who were not very educated women.
Awalim Dancers. The person who sold these Awalim dancers are called Ustiz.
Almeh was a woman who had been trained in the art of dance and music. They often played the oud and even came with a list of songs and poems that they could play and recite for you.
Every class of dancers had a very different style of dance.
Factual stories that existed there.
During the Ottoman reign over Egypt there was a surge in tourism and many soldiers. The Ghawazee dancers of course saw this as a moneymaking opportunity and would follow camps of soldiers to dance for. This embarrassed and angered the ruler of the time who exiled the Ghawazee to Esna, which is in southern Egypt, to solve his problem.
The rise of Belly Dance
In the 1880’s, the dance had a boom in Europe, which was called Salome Dancing. This was partly inspired by Mata Hari who claimed to be an eastern dancer but who in fact was pretty much a glorified stripper. In the 1890’s, the worlds fair introduced Middle Eastern dance to the western world. They termed this dance belly dance to entice people to see it. At that time, it was very risqué to talk about a woman's hips because it brought to mind other things and so even belly was a strong word to use but was as much as they could get away with without getting into trouble. The dancers who danced at the worlds fair were not dressed as you would see most Middle Eastern dancers today. They were fully clothed in long dresses with simply a piece of cloth tied about their hips.
Hollywood was the beginning of this change. As with everything that comes out of Hollywood, costuming became much more glamorous. Old Hollywood films show women for the first time with bare midriffs, a fancy bra like top and an embellished belt around their waist. This style then traveled back to Egypt where they made the final transition to the costume of the day where they lowered the belt to sit at the hips instead of the waist. This showed the moves much better.
More interesting history could be found here http://middleeasterndance.homestead.com/History.html
On a side note, I was so amazed on how they portrayed the history. For some reason, it didn't bore me and I continuosly read it until the end. Maybe because of the language they used which seem more err... friendly? Or it could be I'm so into this Middle Eastern culture right now.
Friday, May 29, 2009
My Execution
I've changed my execution yet again and sticking to filming, not because I'm lazy to do graphics but because of my interest in film. Oh please anything that is digital and computerized is not difficult to do.
The concept will be Lateral Thinking in which requires a creative mind to think out of the box. The opposite is vertical thinking which means what you hear/see is what you get. This may not really suit my research but it doesn't matter because my purpose is not to flood you with history and information of middle eastern music, but whereas I want to experiment and escape from cliche patterns of showing information, and change the perception of how we see things, and also to think more!! Not just spoon-feeding the audience with information and nice graphics which at the end of the day, none will remember the content. Even if they do, I'm sure it won't be of a use to them. So I might as well introduce a technique that may be of a use to them in the future. But I have to do it good of coz.
I have come out with several ways to show lateral thinking, but I wont be posting now as I have not completed it yet. But I will post some of the pictures that inspired me and the ones I might be using.
I'm inspired by that flower because its just so beautiful. Maybe I could use it as a transformation of arabesque music from tasteless to colourful. Of course I wont this picture lah.
http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/bellydancingcostumes.htm
That website above shows various costume of a belly dancer (a dance that is popular in the middle eastern). I'm thinking of using the material as a main element in my film to tie every sequence. Right now I'm not making much sense but you'll see.
The concept will be Lateral Thinking in which requires a creative mind to think out of the box. The opposite is vertical thinking which means what you hear/see is what you get. This may not really suit my research but it doesn't matter because my purpose is not to flood you with history and information of middle eastern music, but whereas I want to experiment and escape from cliche patterns of showing information, and change the perception of how we see things, and also to think more!! Not just spoon-feeding the audience with information and nice graphics which at the end of the day, none will remember the content. Even if they do, I'm sure it won't be of a use to them. So I might as well introduce a technique that may be of a use to them in the future. But I have to do it good of coz.
I have come out with several ways to show lateral thinking, but I wont be posting now as I have not completed it yet. But I will post some of the pictures that inspired me and the ones I might be using.
I'm inspired by that flower because its just so beautiful. Maybe I could use it as a transformation of arabesque music from tasteless to colourful. Of course I wont this picture lah.
http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/bellydancingcostumes.htm
That website above shows various costume of a belly dancer (a dance that is popular in the middle eastern). I'm thinking of using the material as a main element in my film to tie every sequence. Right now I'm not making much sense but you'll see.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Reference
http://www.layoutsparks.com/myspace-layouts/colorful_3
Very very nice designs for inspirations
Very very nice designs for inspirations
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Summary of Arabic Musical Instruments
In this entry, I will summarize all the research I have done on Middle eastern music culture, picking up only interesting facts that I will use for my execution. I'll start with the instruments.
OUD
Start with a definition: Literally, 'ud means 'twig', 'flexible rod' or 'aromatic stick', and by inference 'piece of wood'
Then the history: According to Farabi (the greatest muslim scientist and philosopher!), the oud was invented by Lamech, the sixth grandson of Adam. The legend tells that the grieving Lamech hung the body of his dead son from a tree. The first oud was inspired by the shape of his son's bleached skeleton.
Specialty or interesting facts: In Iraq, there's a saying goes that in its music lies the country’s soul. In the 9th century, Miwardi, the jurist of Baghdad, extolled its use in treating illness. 'The oud invigorates the body. It places the temperament in equilibrium. It is a remedy... It calms and revives hearts'
Misc.: The Arabs traditionally used thin piece of wood as a plectrum, later replaced by the eagle's feather by Zyriab in Spain. The profound and mellow sound is referred to by Virtuosos throughout the Middle East as the ‘King of all instruments’. Also, the increasing fervor of Islamic militants who consider secular music to be haraam (forbidden) forced many Oud players or teachers into hiding or exile.
Secular music is non-sacred music that focused more on common law rather than religious terms. A lot of secular music were written during the Renassaince period.
QANUN
Starts with a definition: The Arabic word ‘kanun’ comes from the Greek word ‘kanon.’ The term ‘kanon’ means law, administration, rule, regulation. It is basically a zither with a narrow trapezoidal soundboard.
Interesting facts on how its made: The KANUN is constructed by skilled craftsmen in workshops in Turkey. Everything is made by hand using up to seven different kinds of wood. The top is made of sycamore wood, the back of pine wood,the bridge is made of maple. The design on the sides and top is cut out of rosewood and white pine.The sound board is completed by using either fish or calf leather, giving the KANUN its rich resonance.
Misc.: In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the kanun was one of the instruments that were played by women. The kanun was quite popular in Istanbul. A professional music ensemble without a kanun was unthinkable.
The qanun is suitable for the display of virtuosity, the execution of fioriture and rapid scales. Interestingly, this traditional Arabic instrument, has been replaced by the less complex piano, itself an outgrowth of the harpsichord, an instrument which exchanged the zither's plectra with hammers.
NEY/NAY
Definition: Persian for "reed" . It is the material from which the Ney is made. The end-blown ney of Turkey and Iran is made from the stem of a bamboo plant. The mouthpiece, generally made of buffalo horn, called baspare.
History and Uses:The ney is often used to create religious music in the Islamic traditions of Sufism. The music helps to induce a meditative state. Ney players are seen in wall paintings in the Egyptian pyramids. Thus, the ney has been played continuously for 4,500-5,000 years. It is one of the oldest musical instruments still in use.
Interesting facts: The ney’s mournful tone is reminiscent of a man’s voice during supplication. Additionally, the drum and the tambourine are representative of the lover, “for without the touch of the beloved’s fingers, the drum would be silent”. In Sufism, their music is believed to have healing powers, and their dancing has the power to achieve spiritual ecstasy.
Conclusion: I can create a metaphor and use humans and emotions to represent the instrument NEY.
KOMUZ
Definition:It is often used in the Kyrgyz Music in the Kyrgyzstan culture.
Interesting facts: This instrument was thought to have magical powers and was brought to wars and used in military bands. The names of parts of the komuz are often allusions to body parts, particularly of horses. For example, the neck is called IPA: [mojun] "neck", the tuning pegs are called IPA: [qulɑq], or "ear"s. The Kyrgyz word кыл/qyl means "string of an instrument" or "horse's hair".
MYTHS: Various myths exist about the komuz. One tells that the hunter Kambarkan was wandering in the forest when he heard a beautiful sound. He looked for the source and found the intestine of a squirrel tied between two tree branches, which he took and fashioned into a musical instrument. It is also said that the nightingale learned to sing by copying the komuz. The name is believed to have been derived from the ancient Turkic words "gop" meaning height and "uz" meaning voice, or magic music sound.
OUD
Start with a definition: Literally, 'ud means 'twig', 'flexible rod' or 'aromatic stick', and by inference 'piece of wood'
Then the history: According to Farabi (the greatest muslim scientist and philosopher!), the oud was invented by Lamech, the sixth grandson of Adam. The legend tells that the grieving Lamech hung the body of his dead son from a tree. The first oud was inspired by the shape of his son's bleached skeleton.
Specialty or interesting facts: In Iraq, there's a saying goes that in its music lies the country’s soul. In the 9th century, Miwardi, the jurist of Baghdad, extolled its use in treating illness. 'The oud invigorates the body. It places the temperament in equilibrium. It is a remedy... It calms and revives hearts'
Misc.: The Arabs traditionally used thin piece of wood as a plectrum, later replaced by the eagle's feather by Zyriab in Spain. The profound and mellow sound is referred to by Virtuosos throughout the Middle East as the ‘King of all instruments’. Also, the increasing fervor of Islamic militants who consider secular music to be haraam (forbidden) forced many Oud players or teachers into hiding or exile.
Secular music is non-sacred music that focused more on common law rather than religious terms. A lot of secular music were written during the Renassaince period.
QANUN
Starts with a definition: The Arabic word ‘kanun’ comes from the Greek word ‘kanon.’ The term ‘kanon’ means law, administration, rule, regulation. It is basically a zither with a narrow trapezoidal soundboard.
Interesting facts on how its made: The KANUN is constructed by skilled craftsmen in workshops in Turkey. Everything is made by hand using up to seven different kinds of wood. The top is made of sycamore wood, the back of pine wood,the bridge is made of maple. The design on the sides and top is cut out of rosewood and white pine.The sound board is completed by using either fish or calf leather, giving the KANUN its rich resonance.
Misc.: In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the kanun was one of the instruments that were played by women. The kanun was quite popular in Istanbul. A professional music ensemble without a kanun was unthinkable.
The qanun is suitable for the display of virtuosity, the execution of fioriture and rapid scales. Interestingly, this traditional Arabic instrument, has been replaced by the less complex piano, itself an outgrowth of the harpsichord, an instrument which exchanged the zither's plectra with hammers.
NEY/NAY
Definition: Persian for "reed" . It is the material from which the Ney is made. The end-blown ney of Turkey and Iran is made from the stem of a bamboo plant. The mouthpiece, generally made of buffalo horn, called baspare.
History and Uses:The ney is often used to create religious music in the Islamic traditions of Sufism. The music helps to induce a meditative state. Ney players are seen in wall paintings in the Egyptian pyramids. Thus, the ney has been played continuously for 4,500-5,000 years. It is one of the oldest musical instruments still in use.
Interesting facts: The ney’s mournful tone is reminiscent of a man’s voice during supplication. Additionally, the drum and the tambourine are representative of the lover, “for without the touch of the beloved’s fingers, the drum would be silent”. In Sufism, their music is believed to have healing powers, and their dancing has the power to achieve spiritual ecstasy.
Conclusion: I can create a metaphor and use humans and emotions to represent the instrument NEY.
KOMUZ
Definition:It is often used in the Kyrgyz Music in the Kyrgyzstan culture.
Interesting facts: This instrument was thought to have magical powers and was brought to wars and used in military bands. The names of parts of the komuz are often allusions to body parts, particularly of horses. For example, the neck is called IPA: [mojun] "neck", the tuning pegs are called IPA: [qulɑq], or "ear"s. The Kyrgyz word кыл/qyl means "string of an instrument" or "horse's hair".
MYTHS: Various myths exist about the komuz. One tells that the hunter Kambarkan was wandering in the forest when he heard a beautiful sound. He looked for the source and found the intestine of a squirrel tied between two tree branches, which he took and fashioned into a musical instrument. It is also said that the nightingale learned to sing by copying the komuz. The name is believed to have been derived from the ancient Turkic words "gop" meaning height and "uz" meaning voice, or magic music sound.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Arabic Musical Instruments_part 4
Now lets take a look at DARBUKA
Darbuka (kup, or goblet drum) is a goblet shaped hand drum used mostly in Hebrew, Arabic, Assyrian, Persian, Balkan, Greek, Armenian, Azeri and Turkish music. Its thin, responsive drumhead and resonance help it produce a distinctively crisp sound. It is of ancient origin, and is believed by some to have been invented before the wheel. It is originally made of red clay. The goat or cow hide stretched across the mouth creates a pleasing sound, especially when heated. The darbuka is known by several names throughout Anatolia, including dümbelek, deblek, dömbek, deblek, güpgüp.
HISTORY OF DARBUKA
In the past, the darbuka was made of leather (fish skin or animal hide) and burnt clay. However, leather gets cold quickly and loses its quality. So it was necessary to invent an instrument that can keep up with the development of other musical instruments. Therefore, the darbuka was modified and made of aluminium, plastic and screws to enhance the sound of the instrument to match the quality of other instruments. The purpose of a darbuka is to establish metres and measures and since folk music and Andalusian music rely on metres and measures, the darbuka was brought in to fulfill this role.
Modern Darbuka
HOW TO PLAY DARBUKA
To play the darbuka, you should hold the instrument from the edge with the left hand while striking the darbuka with the right hand. The movements of the hand should be semi-circular and should maintain the rhythm. You have to use both hands to play the darbuka, which should be placed on your thighs since it is a heavy instrument. Its role is to maintain rhythm.
For more techniques, visit
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darbuka
And there is an excellent history on darbuka filled with pictures here
http://www.khafif.com/rhy/his.html
Now lets take a look at some videos!!!
A woman dancing to a darbuka solo!
RIQ (daff)
Riq is a type of tambourine used as a traditional instrument in Arabic music. It is an important instrument in both folk and classical music throughout the Arabic-speaking world. It traditionally has a wooden frame, jingles, and a thin, translucent head made of fish or goat skin. It contains cymbals surrounding its circular body which click together making sounds similar to its cousin instrument, the tamborine. Riq players are capable of great subtlety and virtuosity.
USES OF RIQ
(To put in complez owrds) Exploding in a burst of imaginative freedom to colour the orchestra with gleaming sounds. The riq is also related to worship, as in upper Egypt.
Darbuka (kup, or goblet drum) is a goblet shaped hand drum used mostly in Hebrew, Arabic, Assyrian, Persian, Balkan, Greek, Armenian, Azeri and Turkish music. Its thin, responsive drumhead and resonance help it produce a distinctively crisp sound. It is of ancient origin, and is believed by some to have been invented before the wheel. It is originally made of red clay. The goat or cow hide stretched across the mouth creates a pleasing sound, especially when heated. The darbuka is known by several names throughout Anatolia, including dümbelek, deblek, dömbek, deblek, güpgüp.
HISTORY OF DARBUKA
In the past, the darbuka was made of leather (fish skin or animal hide) and burnt clay. However, leather gets cold quickly and loses its quality. So it was necessary to invent an instrument that can keep up with the development of other musical instruments. Therefore, the darbuka was modified and made of aluminium, plastic and screws to enhance the sound of the instrument to match the quality of other instruments. The purpose of a darbuka is to establish metres and measures and since folk music and Andalusian music rely on metres and measures, the darbuka was brought in to fulfill this role.
Modern Darbuka
HOW TO PLAY DARBUKA
To play the darbuka, you should hold the instrument from the edge with the left hand while striking the darbuka with the right hand. The movements of the hand should be semi-circular and should maintain the rhythm. You have to use both hands to play the darbuka, which should be placed on your thighs since it is a heavy instrument. Its role is to maintain rhythm.
For more techniques, visit
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darbuka
And there is an excellent history on darbuka filled with pictures here
http://www.khafif.com/rhy/his.html
Now lets take a look at some videos!!!
A woman dancing to a darbuka solo!
RIQ (daff)
Riq is a type of tambourine used as a traditional instrument in Arabic music. It is an important instrument in both folk and classical music throughout the Arabic-speaking world. It traditionally has a wooden frame, jingles, and a thin, translucent head made of fish or goat skin. It contains cymbals surrounding its circular body which click together making sounds similar to its cousin instrument, the tamborine. Riq players are capable of great subtlety and virtuosity.
USES OF RIQ
(To put in complez owrds) Exploding in a burst of imaginative freedom to colour the orchestra with gleaming sounds. The riq is also related to worship, as in upper Egypt.
Arabic Musical Instruments_part 3
The oud counterpart, KOMUZ.
KOMUZ
An ancient fretless string instrument used in Central Asian music, related to certain other Turkic string instruments and the lute. It is often used in the Kyrgyz Music in the Kyrgyzstan culture. The Kyrgyz are a Turkic ethnic group found primarily in Kyrgyzstan.
A traditional Kyrgyz Manaschi performing part of the Manas epic poem at a yurt camp in Karakol
KYRGYZ MUSIC
The main feature of the distinctive style of Kyrgyz music is the images it conjures in the mind. There is a very wide picturesque range: from heroics with dramatic (epic) effects, to the beauty of natural scenery (mountains, trees and streams) and domestic themes.
BACK TO KOMUZ: INFORMATION
The komuz is generally made from a single piece of wood (usually apricot or juniper) and has three strings traditionally made out of gut, and often from fishing line in modern times. The golcha gopuz is made from a leather covering which covered around two-thirds of the surface, and the other third is covered with thin wood along with the sound board.
MYTHS ON KOMUZ
Various myths exist about the komuz. One tells that the hunter Kambarkan was wandering in the forest when he heard a beautiful sound. He looked for the source and found the intestine of a squirrel tied between two tree branches, which he took and fashioned into a musical instrument. It is also said that the nightingale learned to sing by copying the komuz.
FACTS: This instrument was thought to have magical powers and was brought to wars and used in military bands
Lets take a look at how Komuz is played!
With singing (Kyrgyz Music)
KOMUZ
An ancient fretless string instrument used in Central Asian music, related to certain other Turkic string instruments and the lute. It is often used in the Kyrgyz Music in the Kyrgyzstan culture. The Kyrgyz are a Turkic ethnic group found primarily in Kyrgyzstan.
A traditional Kyrgyz Manaschi performing part of the Manas epic poem at a yurt camp in Karakol
KYRGYZ MUSIC
The main feature of the distinctive style of Kyrgyz music is the images it conjures in the mind. There is a very wide picturesque range: from heroics with dramatic (epic) effects, to the beauty of natural scenery (mountains, trees and streams) and domestic themes.
BACK TO KOMUZ: INFORMATION
The komuz is generally made from a single piece of wood (usually apricot or juniper) and has three strings traditionally made out of gut, and often from fishing line in modern times. The golcha gopuz is made from a leather covering which covered around two-thirds of the surface, and the other third is covered with thin wood along with the sound board.
MYTHS ON KOMUZ
Various myths exist about the komuz. One tells that the hunter Kambarkan was wandering in the forest when he heard a beautiful sound. He looked for the source and found the intestine of a squirrel tied between two tree branches, which he took and fashioned into a musical instrument. It is also said that the nightingale learned to sing by copying the komuz.
FACTS: This instrument was thought to have magical powers and was brought to wars and used in military bands
Lets take a look at how Komuz is played!
With singing (Kyrgyz Music)
Monday, May 18, 2009
Arabic Musical Instruments_part 2
QANUN/KANUN
A string instrument found in Near Eastern traditional music based on Maqamat. The kanun is one of the kithara class of instruments, which besides Turkey is used in North Africa and the Middle East, Iran, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Macedonia, Kosovo and Greece. Almost all musicologists agree that the Arabic word ‘kanun’ comes from the Greek word ‘kanon.’ The term ‘kanon’ means law, administration, rule, regulation.
The sound is produced by the vibration of taut strings arranged "openly" from short to long. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the kanun was one of the instruments that were played by women. In the second half of the 19th century, the kanun was quite popular in Istanbul. A professional music ensemble without a kanun was unthinkable.
For more information on the structure of the Qanun/Kanun, visit this awesome website!
http://exoticmusicshop.com/sf-articles-of-Kanun_zither_-aid-16-tp-1_10.htm
CHANGES IN THE KANUN
Coming into use in Ottoman music in the 15th century at the latest, the kanun underwent changes to its structure, and its size was sometimes increased, sometimes decreased. The kanun used in Istanbul in the 16th century can be considered identical to that used in Iran and Mesopotamia. This instrument was most likely constructed entirely of wood, with metal strings, an assumption supported by several miniatures. The kalun used today by the Uygurs is the only modern instrument resembling this kanun.
HOW TO PLAY
It is played on the lap by plucking the strings with two tortoise-shell picks, one in each hand, or by the fingernails, and has a range of three and a half octaves, from A2 to E6. These small levers, which can be raised or lowered quickly by the performer while the instrument is being played, serve to change the pitch of a particular course slightly by altering the string lengths. The player uses ivory picks.
Now lets see some videos shall we!
Now lets take a look at a woodwind instrument, the NEY! On previous entry I have mentioned this but now lets uncover the interesting facts of a Ney. I called this the Father because its the oldest instrument to date.
The current name is the word "Ney" which is Persian for "reed" . It is the material from which the Ney is made. The end-blown ney of Turkey and Iran is made from the stem of a bamboo plant.
Woman playing the ney in a painting from the Hasht-Behesht Palace in Isfahan Iran, 1669
The ney is often used to create religious music in the Islamic traditions of Sufism. The music helps to induce a meditative state. Sufi musicians aim to create heavenly sounds through abstract rhythms and patterns of notes, in contrast to the shakuhachi, which typically mimics sounds from nature.
THE NEY IN SUFISM
The ney’s mournful tone is reminiscent of a man’s voice during supplication. Additionally, the drum and the tambourine are representative of the lover, “for without the touch of the beloved’s fingers, the drum would be silent”. Evidently, Sufi instruments are regarded as far more than instruments; they are almost like separate beings, in and of themselves.
For the Sufi Muslims, music has an even greater power: to forge a connection with God. Their music is believed to have healing powers, and their dancing has the power to achieve spiritual ecstasy. By integrating song and dance with prayer and meditation, Sufi mysticism is perhaps one of the most musical religions in the world.
Conclusion: I can create a metaphor and use humans and emotions to represent the instrument NEY.
A string instrument found in Near Eastern traditional music based on Maqamat. The kanun is one of the kithara class of instruments, which besides Turkey is used in North Africa and the Middle East, Iran, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Macedonia, Kosovo and Greece. Almost all musicologists agree that the Arabic word ‘kanun’ comes from the Greek word ‘kanon.’ The term ‘kanon’ means law, administration, rule, regulation.
The sound is produced by the vibration of taut strings arranged "openly" from short to long. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the kanun was one of the instruments that were played by women. In the second half of the 19th century, the kanun was quite popular in Istanbul. A professional music ensemble without a kanun was unthinkable.
For more information on the structure of the Qanun/Kanun, visit this awesome website!
http://exoticmusicshop.com/sf-articles-of-Kanun_zither_-aid-16-tp-1_10.htm
CHANGES IN THE KANUN
Coming into use in Ottoman music in the 15th century at the latest, the kanun underwent changes to its structure, and its size was sometimes increased, sometimes decreased. The kanun used in Istanbul in the 16th century can be considered identical to that used in Iran and Mesopotamia. This instrument was most likely constructed entirely of wood, with metal strings, an assumption supported by several miniatures. The kalun used today by the Uygurs is the only modern instrument resembling this kanun.
HOW TO PLAY
It is played on the lap by plucking the strings with two tortoise-shell picks, one in each hand, or by the fingernails, and has a range of three and a half octaves, from A2 to E6. These small levers, which can be raised or lowered quickly by the performer while the instrument is being played, serve to change the pitch of a particular course slightly by altering the string lengths. The player uses ivory picks.
Now lets see some videos shall we!
Now lets take a look at a woodwind instrument, the NEY! On previous entry I have mentioned this but now lets uncover the interesting facts of a Ney. I called this the Father because its the oldest instrument to date.
The current name is the word "Ney" which is Persian for "reed" . It is the material from which the Ney is made. The end-blown ney of Turkey and Iran is made from the stem of a bamboo plant.
Woman playing the ney in a painting from the Hasht-Behesht Palace in Isfahan Iran, 1669
The ney is often used to create religious music in the Islamic traditions of Sufism. The music helps to induce a meditative state. Sufi musicians aim to create heavenly sounds through abstract rhythms and patterns of notes, in contrast to the shakuhachi, which typically mimics sounds from nature.
THE NEY IN SUFISM
The ney’s mournful tone is reminiscent of a man’s voice during supplication. Additionally, the drum and the tambourine are representative of the lover, “for without the touch of the beloved’s fingers, the drum would be silent”. Evidently, Sufi instruments are regarded as far more than instruments; they are almost like separate beings, in and of themselves.
For the Sufi Muslims, music has an even greater power: to forge a connection with God. Their music is believed to have healing powers, and their dancing has the power to achieve spiritual ecstasy. By integrating song and dance with prayer and meditation, Sufi mysticism is perhaps one of the most musical religions in the world.
Conclusion: I can create a metaphor and use humans and emotions to represent the instrument NEY.
Arabic Musical Instruments
Now for the most interesting part of all, the instruments!!!!
I have decided to chunk the different types of instrument at one entry or 2, because all these instruments were used in the different kind of middle eastern music. You can't say that Turkish music uses the Ney but arabesque no. NO ITS NOT LIKE THAT!
BASIC INFO ON ARABIC INSTRUMENTS/MUSIC
Early Arab musicians borrowed from the Egyptians, Assyrians, and Sumerians. Many of the instruments used today are direct descendents of those depicted in the wall paintings and carvings of those past civilizations. Helping to revive an interest in Greek music and literature through Arabic translations, Arab music filled the cultural void and contributed to the later European Renaissance.
Ok now we start off with the most famous musical instrument in middle eastern, the OUD!. Why is this famous? In my opinion, this instrument is like our guitar in which its easy to learn and cool to play. That's why it rose to fame just like our guitar which is one of the more popular instruments. Logic right? Now lets find more infos on the OUD.
MEANING AND USAGE OF THE WORD OUD
Literally, 'ud means 'twig', 'flexible rod' or 'aromatic stick', and by inference 'piece of wood'. From another source, the words "lute" and "oud" are both speculated to be derived from Arabic, meaning a thin piece of wood similar to the shape of a straw, referring either to the wood plectrum used traditionally for playing the lute[1], or to the thin strips of wood used for the back, or for the fact that the top was made of wood, not skin as were earlier.
HOW THE OUD WAS SPREAD AND BECAME POPULAR
The oud was most likely introduced to Western Europe by the Arabs who established the Umayyad Caliphate of Al-Andalus on the Iberian Peninsula beginning in the year 711 AD. Tt was the royal houses of Al-Andalus that cultivated the environment which raised the level of oud playing to greater heights and boosted the popularity of the instrument. The most famous oud player of Al-Andalus was Zyriab.
HISTORY OF OUD
According to Farabi (the greatest muslim scientist and philosopher!), the oud was invented by Lamech, the sixth grandson of Adam. The legend tells that the grieving Lamech hung the body of his dead son from a tree. The first oud was inspired by the shape of his son's bleached skeleton. This instrument appears many times throughout Mesopotamian history and again in ancient Egypt from the 18th dynasty onwards in long and short-neck varieties. This instrument and its close relatives have been a part of the music of each of the ancient civilizations that have existed in the Mediterranean and the Middle East regions, including the Sumerians, Akkadians, Persians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Armenians, Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans.
OUD AS A SACRED OBJECT/INSTRUMENT
The oud has a particularly long tradition in Iraq, where a saying goes that in its music lies the country’s soul. A ninth-century Baghdad jurist praised the healing powers of the instrument. In the 9th century, Miwardi, the jurist of Baghdad, extolled its use in treating illness, a principle allowed and defended in Arab Spain by the 11th-century theologian Ibn Hazm. The symbolism lived on until the 19th century: 'the 'ud invigorates the body. It places the temperament in equilibrium. It is a remedy... It calms and revives hearts' ---> WOW!!!!
There is also evidence that it was played on the battlefield.
However, the increasing fervor of Islamic militants who consider secular music to be haraam (forbidden) forced many Oud players or teachers into hiding or exile. Different tunings are used and the Turkish-style oud has a brighter tone than its Arab counterpart.
DEFINING FEATURES
The websites below provides great detail of the features of an OUD.
http://www.oud.eclipse.co.uk/history.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oud
PLECTRUM (PICK)
The strings of the contemporary 'ud are twisted, or spirally reinforced. They are plucked with a plectrum (risha, 'quill') made of an eagle's feather and held between thumb and index finger; a shell or plastic plectrum may be used instead. The technique calls for suppleness of the wrist as the plectrum strikes the strings in a simple fall, or combines risings and fallings.
he Arabs traditionally used thin piece of wood as a plectrum, later replaced by the eagle's feather by Zyriab in Spain (between 822 to 857), other sources state that he is the first one to use the wooden plectrum.
To date the Arabic players use the historic name reeshe or risha, which literally means "feather" while Turkish players refer to it as a mızrap. Currently the plastic pick is most commonly used for playing the oud being effective, affordable and convenient to get.
Like similar strummed stringed instruments, professional Oud players take the quality of their plectrums very seriously, often making their own out of other plastic objects, and taking great care to sand down any sharp edges in order to achieve the best sound possible.
Now lets take a look at OUD players.
THIS IS VERY THE NICE!
I have decided to chunk the different types of instrument at one entry or 2, because all these instruments were used in the different kind of middle eastern music. You can't say that Turkish music uses the Ney but arabesque no. NO ITS NOT LIKE THAT!
BASIC INFO ON ARABIC INSTRUMENTS/MUSIC
Early Arab musicians borrowed from the Egyptians, Assyrians, and Sumerians. Many of the instruments used today are direct descendents of those depicted in the wall paintings and carvings of those past civilizations. Helping to revive an interest in Greek music and literature through Arabic translations, Arab music filled the cultural void and contributed to the later European Renaissance.
Ok now we start off with the most famous musical instrument in middle eastern, the OUD!. Why is this famous? In my opinion, this instrument is like our guitar in which its easy to learn and cool to play. That's why it rose to fame just like our guitar which is one of the more popular instruments. Logic right? Now lets find more infos on the OUD.
MEANING AND USAGE OF THE WORD OUD
Literally, 'ud means 'twig', 'flexible rod' or 'aromatic stick', and by inference 'piece of wood'. From another source, the words "lute" and "oud" are both speculated to be derived from Arabic, meaning a thin piece of wood similar to the shape of a straw, referring either to the wood plectrum used traditionally for playing the lute[1], or to the thin strips of wood used for the back, or for the fact that the top was made of wood, not skin as were earlier.
HOW THE OUD WAS SPREAD AND BECAME POPULAR
The oud was most likely introduced to Western Europe by the Arabs who established the Umayyad Caliphate of Al-Andalus on the Iberian Peninsula beginning in the year 711 AD. Tt was the royal houses of Al-Andalus that cultivated the environment which raised the level of oud playing to greater heights and boosted the popularity of the instrument. The most famous oud player of Al-Andalus was Zyriab.
HISTORY OF OUD
According to Farabi (the greatest muslim scientist and philosopher!), the oud was invented by Lamech, the sixth grandson of Adam. The legend tells that the grieving Lamech hung the body of his dead son from a tree. The first oud was inspired by the shape of his son's bleached skeleton. This instrument appears many times throughout Mesopotamian history and again in ancient Egypt from the 18th dynasty onwards in long and short-neck varieties. This instrument and its close relatives have been a part of the music of each of the ancient civilizations that have existed in the Mediterranean and the Middle East regions, including the Sumerians, Akkadians, Persians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Armenians, Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans.
OUD AS A SACRED OBJECT/INSTRUMENT
The oud has a particularly long tradition in Iraq, where a saying goes that in its music lies the country’s soul. A ninth-century Baghdad jurist praised the healing powers of the instrument. In the 9th century, Miwardi, the jurist of Baghdad, extolled its use in treating illness, a principle allowed and defended in Arab Spain by the 11th-century theologian Ibn Hazm. The symbolism lived on until the 19th century: 'the 'ud invigorates the body. It places the temperament in equilibrium. It is a remedy... It calms and revives hearts' ---> WOW!!!!
There is also evidence that it was played on the battlefield.
However, the increasing fervor of Islamic militants who consider secular music to be haraam (forbidden) forced many Oud players or teachers into hiding or exile. Different tunings are used and the Turkish-style oud has a brighter tone than its Arab counterpart.
DEFINING FEATURES
The websites below provides great detail of the features of an OUD.
http://www.oud.eclipse.co.uk/history.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oud
PLECTRUM (PICK)
The strings of the contemporary 'ud are twisted, or spirally reinforced. They are plucked with a plectrum (risha, 'quill') made of an eagle's feather and held between thumb and index finger; a shell or plastic plectrum may be used instead. The technique calls for suppleness of the wrist as the plectrum strikes the strings in a simple fall, or combines risings and fallings.
he Arabs traditionally used thin piece of wood as a plectrum, later replaced by the eagle's feather by Zyriab in Spain (between 822 to 857), other sources state that he is the first one to use the wooden plectrum.
To date the Arabic players use the historic name reeshe or risha, which literally means "feather" while Turkish players refer to it as a mızrap. Currently the plastic pick is most commonly used for playing the oud being effective, affordable and convenient to get.
Like similar strummed stringed instruments, professional Oud players take the quality of their plectrums very seriously, often making their own out of other plastic objects, and taking great care to sand down any sharp edges in order to achieve the best sound possible.
Now lets take a look at OUD players.
THIS IS VERY THE NICE!
Arabic Andalusian
Before we begin, lets hear how Andalusian actually sounds like.
This is the best video I could find. The rest doesn't seem to Andalusian as it has tons of mixtures of spanish, irish etc2.
ANDALUSIAN MUSIC
Itss a style of Arabic music found across North Africa, though it evolved out of the music of Andalusia between the 9th and 15th centuries, during the Al-Andalus period. It is now most closely associated with Morocco.
Ok now thats a lot of information for one sentence. Lets break it down.
MUSIC OF ANDALUSIA (the bold one above)
Andalusia is a region in Spain that is best-known for flamenco, a form of music and dance that is mostly performed by Gypsy people and popular throughout the world. Arab Muslims influence seems common, and more inherent than in the rest of Spain.
Flamenco is the music of the gypsies and played in their social community. Flamenco is very interesting! I will elabourate on it more on the next entry.
Al-Andalus was the Arabic name given to the parts of the Iberian Peninsula governed by Arab and African Muslims, at various times in the period between 711 and 1492.
CONTINUE: ANDALUSIAN MUSIC (note that music of andalusia and andalusian music is 2 DIFFERENT things)
Arab-Andalusian music, a unique art form, the love and knowledge of which are transmitted entirely by oral tradition, is not played in Morocco in concert halls, but is performed at festivities, often at family gatherings, where the traditional songs are sung.As in Moroccan Arab-Andalusian music, the instruction is essentally oral and is passed on by ear from generation to generation.
Nothing much interesting I can find about Andalusian Music and its not really popular in Internet. Should find books regarding it, though I doubt the library will have it, or at least, have something that is different from what I have researched here.
This is the best video I could find. The rest doesn't seem to Andalusian as it has tons of mixtures of spanish, irish etc2.
ANDALUSIAN MUSIC
Itss a style of Arabic music found across North Africa, though it evolved out of the music of Andalusia between the 9th and 15th centuries, during the Al-Andalus period. It is now most closely associated with Morocco.
Ok now thats a lot of information for one sentence. Lets break it down.
MUSIC OF ANDALUSIA (the bold one above)
Andalusia is a region in Spain that is best-known for flamenco, a form of music and dance that is mostly performed by Gypsy people and popular throughout the world. Arab Muslims influence seems common, and more inherent than in the rest of Spain.
Flamenco is the music of the gypsies and played in their social community. Flamenco is very interesting! I will elabourate on it more on the next entry.
Al-Andalus was the Arabic name given to the parts of the Iberian Peninsula governed by Arab and African Muslims, at various times in the period between 711 and 1492.
CONTINUE: ANDALUSIAN MUSIC (note that music of andalusia and andalusian music is 2 DIFFERENT things)
Arab-Andalusian music, a unique art form, the love and knowledge of which are transmitted entirely by oral tradition, is not played in Morocco in concert halls, but is performed at festivities, often at family gatherings, where the traditional songs are sung.As in Moroccan Arab-Andalusian music, the instruction is essentally oral and is passed on by ear from generation to generation.
Nothing much interesting I can find about Andalusian Music and its not really popular in Internet. Should find books regarding it, though I doubt the library will have it, or at least, have something that is different from what I have researched here.
Arabesque Music_part 2
CONTINUE: MORE INFORMATION ON ARABESQUE MUSIC
Arabesque music is very melodic and emotional. The main theme of the lyrics has always been ‘love’. Every other theme, especially in the early lyrics, melts into and speaks through the authority of love. The early lyrics are usually made up of ‘traditional’ concepts. The musical structure of arabesque is hybrid, blending both Turkish Classical and Folklore music’s rhythms, modes, forms and instruments and popular Western rhythms, instruments and scoring system for individual instruments.
HISTORY OF ARABESQUE MUSIC
The bureaucrats and intellectuals of diverse political inclinations in Turkey have shared the opinion that arabesque is tasteless and grieved and reflect the alienation of the new urban migrant citizens who brought the village with them to the big cities degrading the city (esp. Istanbul).
Bureaucrats is someone within an institution of a government.
"A music of alienation" is the major concept coined to arabesque in the Encyclopaedia of Music. The left in general emphasized that arabesque is traditional (backward), preaches fatalism.
This is something interesting!
The Turkish Classical and Folklore musicians condemned it for corrupting classical forms due to the both Arabic and Western influences. As a matter of fact, the word ‘arabesque’ has carried a negative connotation from the beginning and its meaning grew like a snowball with each new connotation. The word was first coined in the 1960s to mean that the new music was an imitation of arabic music due to the infusion of the Egyptian melodic nuances and the style of the string performance.
hen the word came to be used as an adjective to name almost everything and every aspect of social life considered to be degraded, which really meant matching neither with ‘traditional’ nor ‘modern’ forms (arabesque democracy, economy, people, situation, taste, feelings, way of thinking and living). ---> HAHA I will now use Arabesque as a bad word!! Miss Tina is an arabesque!! LOLZ
http://ignca.nic.in/ls_03013.htm
In the last paragraph of the website, it explains relations of arabesque to modernization theory. I can't really understand as its abit chim. Will discuss this with Mr Alex.
EVOLUTION OF ARABESQUE MUSIC
Since the end of the 1960s the genre has undergone change, given birth to many versions, differentiated as it got more popular and thus reproduced itself with different audiences, as the music industry developed and social relations and people changed. In time, especially in the 1980s, it became more of a medium of entertainment, football game’s musical slogans and political campaign songs. Arabesque music influenced other popular musical genres too, that is classical Turkish music, folkloric music, pop music which are also officially permitted on the state TV, especially with its melodic patterns, rhythmic emphasis and performance of the instruments and the singer.
I agree!! Right now its extremely difficult to distinguish an arabesque music from turkish music or even a pure arabic music.
Musician and politician Zülfü Livaneli states, "The arabesque trend is not only a form of music; rather, it is the identity problem of a nation placed between East and West, and unable to integrate with either of them." ----> A few sources have also stated that arabesque is neither here nor there.
http://www.turkishmusicportal.org/page.php?id=34&lang2=en
This website is a bomb! Its greatly explain the evolution in arabesque music. Very interesting indeed!! I will summarize it later. Am still reading it.
Arabesque music is very melodic and emotional. The main theme of the lyrics has always been ‘love’. Every other theme, especially in the early lyrics, melts into and speaks through the authority of love. The early lyrics are usually made up of ‘traditional’ concepts. The musical structure of arabesque is hybrid, blending both Turkish Classical and Folklore music’s rhythms, modes, forms and instruments and popular Western rhythms, instruments and scoring system for individual instruments.
HISTORY OF ARABESQUE MUSIC
The bureaucrats and intellectuals of diverse political inclinations in Turkey have shared the opinion that arabesque is tasteless and grieved and reflect the alienation of the new urban migrant citizens who brought the village with them to the big cities degrading the city (esp. Istanbul).
Bureaucrats is someone within an institution of a government.
"A music of alienation" is the major concept coined to arabesque in the Encyclopaedia of Music. The left in general emphasized that arabesque is traditional (backward), preaches fatalism.
This is something interesting!
The Turkish Classical and Folklore musicians condemned it for corrupting classical forms due to the both Arabic and Western influences. As a matter of fact, the word ‘arabesque’ has carried a negative connotation from the beginning and its meaning grew like a snowball with each new connotation. The word was first coined in the 1960s to mean that the new music was an imitation of arabic music due to the infusion of the Egyptian melodic nuances and the style of the string performance.
hen the word came to be used as an adjective to name almost everything and every aspect of social life considered to be degraded, which really meant matching neither with ‘traditional’ nor ‘modern’ forms (arabesque democracy, economy, people, situation, taste, feelings, way of thinking and living). ---> HAHA I will now use Arabesque as a bad word!! Miss Tina is an arabesque!! LOLZ
http://ignca.nic.in/ls_03013.htm
In the last paragraph of the website, it explains relations of arabesque to modernization theory. I can't really understand as its abit chim. Will discuss this with Mr Alex.
EVOLUTION OF ARABESQUE MUSIC
Since the end of the 1960s the genre has undergone change, given birth to many versions, differentiated as it got more popular and thus reproduced itself with different audiences, as the music industry developed and social relations and people changed. In time, especially in the 1980s, it became more of a medium of entertainment, football game’s musical slogans and political campaign songs. Arabesque music influenced other popular musical genres too, that is classical Turkish music, folkloric music, pop music which are also officially permitted on the state TV, especially with its melodic patterns, rhythmic emphasis and performance of the instruments and the singer.
I agree!! Right now its extremely difficult to distinguish an arabesque music from turkish music or even a pure arabic music.
Musician and politician Zülfü Livaneli states, "The arabesque trend is not only a form of music; rather, it is the identity problem of a nation placed between East and West, and unable to integrate with either of them." ----> A few sources have also stated that arabesque is neither here nor there.
http://www.turkishmusicportal.org/page.php?id=34&lang2=en
This website is a bomb! Its greatly explain the evolution in arabesque music. Very interesting indeed!! I will summarize it later. Am still reading it.
Arabesque Music
Another type of music in Turkey is the Arabesque Music!
Arabesque or Arabesk is a genre termed so by Turkish musicologists for Arabic-style music created in Turkey. The so-called ‘arabesque’ music in Turkey has been the most popular musical genre since late 1960s. Although melodies and rhythms are predominantly Arabic-pop influenced, it also draws ideas from other aspects of Middle Eastern music including Bağlama music, Turkish forms of oriental dance and Ottoman classical music.
BAGLAMA
Bağlama is a stringed musical instrument shared by various cultures in the Eastern Mediterranean, Near East, and Central Asia. It is sometimes referred to as the saz. The term saz is mainly used to refer to a family of plucked string instruments, long-necked lutes used in Ottoman classical music, Turkish folk music, Kurdish music.
No wonder I found the word saz to be quite familiar. They're both the same!!
The most commonly used string folk instrument in Turkey, the baglama has seven strings divided into courses of two, two and three.
The different types of Baglama Family:
It can be tuned in various ways and takes different names according to region and size: Bağlama, Divan Sazı, Bozuk, Çöğür, Kopuz Irızva, Cura, Tambura, etc. The cura is the smallest member of the bağlama family: larger than the cura is the tambura, tuned an octave lower. The Divan sazı, the largest instrument in the family, is tuned one octave lower still.
The bağlama is believed to be a synthesis of historical musical instruments in Central Asia and pre-Turkish Anatolia. Bağlama literally translates as "something that is tied up", probably a reference to the tied-on frets of the instrument.
Smallest and Largest Baglama
CONTINUE: ARABESQUE MUSIC
A very small percentage of Arabesk is exclusively instrumental. As the year goes by, the sound grew more dancey and upbeat.
Founder of this genre: Orhan Gencebay
One of the most prolific and commercially successful is İbrahim Tatlıses.
İbrahim Tatlıses is a singer of mixed Arab and Kurdish background born in the town of Şanlıurfa in Turkey.
Why is he the most profilic artist in Turkey's history?
He broke all sales records in Turkey in 1978 and continues to turn out popular music to this day. Thus, he made a major change to Turkey's music industry. His music basically focused on traditional folk music played on indigenous instruments. Tatlises, with no doubt is great singer and he can easily high pitch his vocal from three to five musical scales. He has maintained popularity in the Arabesk scene in recent years through remixing his tracks into dance friendly club tracks.
These are some of his marvelous works!
I found this one below interesting as the beginning reminds me of a particular malay song which I couldn't recall the title.
A more upbeat music. Quite traditional yet has an essence of modernity (does that word even exist?)
Creative use of instruments! Very hindi though but folky (hahaha folky!)
Another artist that is popular with Arabesque Music:
Bülent Ersoy
She has a very controversy history in which she undergo an operation for a sex change! But its not something that I would want to elabourate on, so I'll just leave you with her works. This shemale is very famous for arabesque music. And to me, her music is much more better than Tatlises as he/she works are more purer to arabesque and not so much on modern and pop.
Conclusion: After listening to various songs/music by different artist, I can say that arabesque music tends to use ALOT of string instruments! And its usually heavy and very hindi-ish.
Arabesque or Arabesk is a genre termed so by Turkish musicologists for Arabic-style music created in Turkey. The so-called ‘arabesque’ music in Turkey has been the most popular musical genre since late 1960s. Although melodies and rhythms are predominantly Arabic-pop influenced, it also draws ideas from other aspects of Middle Eastern music including Bağlama music, Turkish forms of oriental dance and Ottoman classical music.
BAGLAMA
Bağlama is a stringed musical instrument shared by various cultures in the Eastern Mediterranean, Near East, and Central Asia. It is sometimes referred to as the saz. The term saz is mainly used to refer to a family of plucked string instruments, long-necked lutes used in Ottoman classical music, Turkish folk music, Kurdish music.
No wonder I found the word saz to be quite familiar. They're both the same!!
The most commonly used string folk instrument in Turkey, the baglama has seven strings divided into courses of two, two and three.
The different types of Baglama Family:
It can be tuned in various ways and takes different names according to region and size: Bağlama, Divan Sazı, Bozuk, Çöğür, Kopuz Irızva, Cura, Tambura, etc. The cura is the smallest member of the bağlama family: larger than the cura is the tambura, tuned an octave lower. The Divan sazı, the largest instrument in the family, is tuned one octave lower still.
The bağlama is believed to be a synthesis of historical musical instruments in Central Asia and pre-Turkish Anatolia. Bağlama literally translates as "something that is tied up", probably a reference to the tied-on frets of the instrument.
Smallest and Largest Baglama
CONTINUE: ARABESQUE MUSIC
A very small percentage of Arabesk is exclusively instrumental. As the year goes by, the sound grew more dancey and upbeat.
Founder of this genre: Orhan Gencebay
One of the most prolific and commercially successful is İbrahim Tatlıses.
İbrahim Tatlıses is a singer of mixed Arab and Kurdish background born in the town of Şanlıurfa in Turkey.
Why is he the most profilic artist in Turkey's history?
He broke all sales records in Turkey in 1978 and continues to turn out popular music to this day. Thus, he made a major change to Turkey's music industry. His music basically focused on traditional folk music played on indigenous instruments. Tatlises, with no doubt is great singer and he can easily high pitch his vocal from three to five musical scales. He has maintained popularity in the Arabesk scene in recent years through remixing his tracks into dance friendly club tracks.
These are some of his marvelous works!
I found this one below interesting as the beginning reminds me of a particular malay song which I couldn't recall the title.
A more upbeat music. Quite traditional yet has an essence of modernity (does that word even exist?)
Creative use of instruments! Very hindi though but folky (hahaha folky!)
Another artist that is popular with Arabesque Music:
Bülent Ersoy
She has a very controversy history in which she undergo an operation for a sex change! But its not something that I would want to elabourate on, so I'll just leave you with her works. This shemale is very famous for arabesque music. And to me, her music is much more better than Tatlises as he/she works are more purer to arabesque and not so much on modern and pop.
Conclusion: After listening to various songs/music by different artist, I can say that arabesque music tends to use ALOT of string instruments! And its usually heavy and very hindi-ish.
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