The Music of Saudi Arabia
By Greg Sakorafis and Rose Bridges
History
The history of the Saudi Arabian region dates back several thousand years. The most important history of the region begins in the seventh century, when the Islamic prophet Muhammed began preaching in the cities of Makkah (more commonly known as "Mecca") and Al Medina. Islam spread quickly throughout the Middle East, Africa, and further regions. The Islamic faith places a heavy emphasis on education, and Arabic scholars made significant improvements to astronomy, medicine, and mathematics. Until the turn of the twentieth century, the area was dominated by nomadic tribes; in 1902 the Saudi Arabian nation formed under the rule of a monarch. Recently the monarchy has granted more democratic power to the citizens, and now municipal elections are held among the male population. However, there are no political parties.
 The Great Mosque of Meccah - thousands of people come to this shrine each day to pray to Allah. It is the site of migration for the hajj each year. |
Culture
Islamic Faith
Saudis place heavy importance on religion. Islam is the official and only religion permitted in the region. Non-Muslims are not even permitted to enter the cites of Mecca or Al Medinah. Most Muslims in Saudi Arabia make five daily prayers, as a sign of their love for Allah, or God. Hundreds of thousands Muslims each year make a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage, called Hajj to the city of Mecca to respect the prophet Muhammed. Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, and thus is required of all able-bodied Muslims.
Lifestyle
Life in Saudi Arabia is much more relaxed than in other places. However, the general public consensus holds onto tradition more than modern nuances. Saudis are very patriotic and devoted to family. There are low rates of crime and drug use.
Dress
Saudi men and women wear traditional dress. Men wear a long shirt that covers a pair of pants, with a headdress. Women often veil their faces and wear a black robe that covers their entire body. Tight-fitting or revealing clothing is not permitted in any way, and wearing these is considered extremely offensive.
Music
All Saudis have a great respect for their cultural music. Public performances of music are numerous, with dancing and celebration. Music is mostly religious but the growth of secular music is beginning to take place.
Indigenous Instruments
The Oud
The oud is an extremly popular instrument in Arabic music. Constructed out of thin strips of wood, it is most suitable for playing the Arabic scale, maquam, as its lack of frets allows it to play in any intonation. An oud usually contains five strings evenly tuned and a bass string, but ouds may have as many as thirteen strings. Instruments similar to the oud may be found in Turkey, Greece, and Egypt.
The Violin
While certainly not a uniquely Arabic instrument, the violin has a large role in regional music. The most common use for the violin in the Arabic fashion is through heavily ornate or rapid passages. Unlike traditional western usage, the Arabic violin is tuned in alternating fourths and fifths, such that the four strings are tuned to G3, D4, G4, D5; instead of the normal GDAE tuning.
The Qanun
While it later evolved to become known in Europe as the psaltery, the quanun's roots lie in ancient egypt. Constructed using 81 strings, the instrument must be tuned prior to performance to the scale being used. However, there are levers and methods of playing the instrument that allow the user to modulate the pitches.
The Nay
The nay is an open-ended flute usually made out of cane. It is constructed with nine joints and comes in various sizes, depending on the scale to be used. To perform on the nay, the musician must utilize bilabial blowing, where the lips are used to cover part of the top hole. The nay is one of the most difficult Arabic instruments to play.
The Riq
The riq is the primary source of rhythm in Saudi Arabian Music. Traditionally constructed out of drawn fish skin, wood, and brass, the tambourine-like instrument has more recently been made out of mylar and aluminum. The riq is valued for its ability to produce multiple sounds, from the drone of the timpanic membrane to the ringing of the five pairs of miniature cymbals.
The Buzuq
Resembling a long-necked lute, the buzuq originated in the days of the Ottoman Empire and was given to foot soldiers as a way to entertain themselves. The buzuk is not often used in Arabic music because it is unable to play the Arabic scale, maqam. To help tune to the scale, though, most of the frets on the instrument are movable. This, unfortunately, does not fully meet the extremely accurate intonation required by the scale. The buzuq is sometimes played with an oud but is usually played in solo form by gypsies in rural areas.
Music Samples
Saudi Arabian performance during the ELI international festival show
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