Read an introduction to Arabic Classical Music . It describes Arabic music as "mono-phonic", which means the melody is by itself. ["mono" = one, "phonic" = sound in the Greek language.] There is no harmony or chords in classical Arabic music. The author says that Arabic music is much more than 2,000 years old. He also tells of the influence of the nomads (Bedouins) who developed this music originally. The author tells us that the classical music can still be heard today, but he is worried about the mixing of the old forms with modern, so that the classical music and the skilled classical musicians might die out soon.
Learn more about music from other parts of the Middle East in such cultures as Iran (Persia), Egypt, and more at classical music from the Near-East (by the same author as above).
See another general introduction to "Music History". This site tells about the great tenth century theorist Al-Farabi. His book "Alkitab Alkabeer" included immense and detailed information on music and musical instruments. He was a practical musician and could appreciate the art as well as the science of music. He was more thorough than the Greeks in handling the physical bases of sound, he could also make valuable contributions to acoustics, i.e. the sensations of tone, a question which the Greeks left practically untouched. Al-Farabi (who died 950 A.D.) described a musical instrument called Al-Tunboor Al-Baghdadi which was used in his time. The instrument's frets gave a "pre-Islamic scale." It was a quarter-tone scale which was developed by dividing a string into forty equal parts.
Persian Classical Music (from Duke University) tells of the influence of Persian music and its influence by Islamic rule - and the influence of Sufi poetry and music as an expression of religious mysticism and the release of the soul. Persian musical instruments (which influenced the music from Spain to China) are also shown as you scroll down. The musical "scale" is also described at this excellent site.
Learn more about music from other parts of the Middle East in such cultures as Iran (Persia), Egypt, and more at classical music from the Near-East (by the same author as above).
See another general introduction to "Music History". This site tells about the great tenth century theorist Al-Farabi. His book "Alkitab Alkabeer" included immense and detailed information on music and musical instruments. He was a practical musician and could appreciate the art as well as the science of music. He was more thorough than the Greeks in handling the physical bases of sound, he could also make valuable contributions to acoustics, i.e. the sensations of tone, a question which the Greeks left practically untouched. Al-Farabi (who died 950 A.D.) described a musical instrument called Al-Tunboor Al-Baghdadi which was used in his time. The instrument's frets gave a "pre-Islamic scale." It was a quarter-tone scale which was developed by dividing a string into forty equal parts.
Persian Classical Music (from Duke University) tells of the influence of Persian music and its influence by Islamic rule - and the influence of Sufi poetry and music as an expression of religious mysticism and the release of the soul. Persian musical instruments (which influenced the music from Spain to China) are also shown as you scroll down. The musical "scale" is also described at this excellent site.
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