Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East - Greek Music, Palestinian Music and Israeli Music

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Greek Music

FACTS ABOUT GREECE

�Considered to be the birthplace of European literature, philosophy, art and music.

�Christianity (Greek Orthodox Church)

�Many Greek myths have been turned into operas by composers such as Mozart, Handel and Stravinsky.

�Modern Greek songs are influenced by folk music.

GREEK FOLK MUSIC - BACKGROUND

�Consists of both dances and songs

�Played at celebrations and other social events

INSTRUMENTS

Instruments

Bouzouki = string instrument, 3 or 4 pairs of strings. Strings are tuned to the same note (sometimes an octave apart), giving the Bouzouki its distinctive sound. Often plays the melody using slides and tremolos in 3rds

�Many percussion instruments, one being called the Defi

�Hand drums with bangles attached

Musical Features of Greek Music

Musical Element

Detail

Melody

�Simple melodies

�Lots of ornamentation

�Melodies move by step � small range of notes used

�Melodies are lyrical, i.e. expressive and enjoyable to sing.

�Scales are similar to major and minor scales, with some chromatic alterations.

�Often melodies are harmonised by another part playing a 3rd higher

Tonality

�Greek music uses diatonic major and minor chords

�The tonic (I) and the dominant (V) notes of each chord are emphasised by the bass instrument

�Some modulation to other keys (often the relative major/minor)

Structure

= Short sections that are repeated.

Timbre and articulation

�Lots of stringed instruments � bowed or plucked

�Tremolo and slides are a feature

�A wide range of hand percussion instruments may be used

�Several wind instruments are used, resembling recorders and clarinets.

Texture

�Melody and accompaniment

�Off-beat chords are also a feature

Tempo, metre and rhythm

�Irregular time signatures (5/8 and 7/8) although simple time (2/4, 3/4 and 4/4) is also common

�Often music is created for dancing

Palestinian Music

Background and Context

Israel and Palestine share a complex and difficult history.

Many regions in these two states have changed hands in recent history, yet they share many musical traditions.

As well as their political history, the diverse religious and cultural history of this region means that Arabic, Jewish and Christian influences have shaped its music, as well as traditions from neighbouring countries in the Middle East, the Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa.

�Similar characteristics to music from other Arab regions, such as Jordan and Syria

�Palestinian folk music is often dance music. Popular dance is known as the dabke.

Instrument	Sound	Role
Oud	Typically uses 11 strings, tuned in 5 pairs with one �drone� sounding string. Played with a pick.	Both an accompaniment or harmony role and a melody role
Kanun � means �law� in Arabic	Strings - an Egyptian harp. Has to be tuned to the correct scale/mode (maqam)	Melody - Lays down the �law� of pitch for other instruments and singers
Doumbek	Drum � similar to the African djembe	Rhythm � beat/pulse
Arghul	Wind instrument	Plays the �drone� (accompaniment or harmony)

MELODY

�Melody is the dominant role

�Improvisation is an important feature and you will often hear a piece begin with an improvisation, free of tempo.

�Based on modes called maqamat � these are different from Western scales as they use microtones (intervals between notes that are smaller than a semitone)

�Maqamat is the plural. A single mode on its own is called a maqam.

�Vocal parts often use melisma and ululations(high pitched trills). They often bend the notes too.

HARMONY

�Oud � string instrument - provides a drone (can also play a melody)

�Arghul � wind instrument - provides a drone

TEXTURE

�Music can be monophonic and heterophonic. A number of different instruments or voices will vary their parts with small improvisations, such as adding ornaments, making it heterophonic.

�Heterophonic texture = one tune that all the instruments play, but with variations, and often at different times.

RHYTHM AND METRE

�Percussion uses set rhythm patterns that stand out due to the lack of harmony. A rhythmic pattern in Arabic music is called a wazn.

�Similar to a tala in Indian Classical music. There are hundreds of them, differing in lengths and time signatures. The doumbek would play these rhythms. An example of a wazn is below:

�Irregular time signatures are common in Palestinian music

Israeli Music

BACKGROUND

�Jewish people from across the world emigrated to Israel during the 20th century, bringing their musical traditions from the communities they came from.

�Israeli music = Europe; North and South America; Africa; Asia; Middle East influences Variety of instruments � Western strings, woodwind, brass and percussion, along with Middle Eastern instruments such as the kanun, oud, doumbek and tambourine.

�Sometimes features of Mediterranean (Greek) and Palestinian (Arabic) music appear in some Jewish and Israeli music, including the oud and irregular time signatures.

�Commonly associated with the lively style of dancing that takes place at Jewish weddings and bar mitzvah ceremonies.

Hava Nagila

�A 2/4 or 4/4 time signature

�A bass part (normally bass guitar) playing crotchet beats

�A chord instrument playing chords on the off beat

�A fast tempo

�Gradual accelerando (speeding up) throughout the piece

In addition, Israeli folk dances have the following characteristics:

�Melodies played on the clarinet, violin and accordion, often using ornamentation such as grace notes and pitch bends to create a distinctive sound

�This piece of music uses a maqam similar to an �Arabic scale�

�Syncopated rhythm in the melody

�Strong, driving beat

�Oom-pah pattern in the accompaniment � lots of Israeli dance music uses this rhythm

Klezmer Music

�Popular form of folk music in Israel today

�Roots in Jewish communities from Eastern Europe

�Klezmer instruments include clarinet, violin, double bass, guitar, accordion, cimbalom (horizontal string instrument played with hammers) and percussion

�Melody � modal scales, ornamentation (trills and glissandi on clarinet or violin) imitating vocal sounds of crying or laughing

�Homophonic texture

�Strong syncopated rhythms for dancing

Other Musical Features of Israeli Music

�Instruments - Ouds also feature in Israeli music, although they aren�t used as much. This is because Israeli music uses many more Western musical instruments, such as the guitar and the piano.

�Composers took inspiration from Arabic music

�Tonality and harmony - Minor keys

�Rhythm - Syncopated rhythms

�Songs celebrated events � harvest, weddings

�Melody - As in Palestinian music, the melody is based on types of maqam � a system of melodic modes or scales. (Similar to a raga in Indian Classical music)

Musical Element	Detail
Melody	�Simple melodies �Lots of ornamentation �Melodies move by step � small range of notes used �Melodies are lyrical, i.e. expressive and enjoyable to sing. �Scales are similar to major and minor scales, with some chromatic alterations. �Often melodies are harmonised by another part playing a 3rd higher
Tonality	�Greek music uses diatonic major and minor chords �The tonic (I) and the dominant (V) notes of each chord are emphasised by the bass instrument �Some modulation to other keys (often the relative major/minor)
Structure	= Short sections that are repeated.
Timbre and articulation	�Lots of stringed instruments � bowed or plucked �Tremolo and slides are a feature �A wide range of hand percussion instruments may be used �Several wind instruments are used, resembling recorders and clarinets.
Texture	�Melody and accompaniment �Off-beat chords are also a feature
Tempo, metre and rhythm	�Irregular time signatures (5/8 and 7/8) although simple time (2/4, 3/4 and 4/4) is also common �Often music is created for dancing