1. Ankita Mehrotra
050 8985601
The World Of Arabic Music.
The word "Music" is derived from the Greek word "Mousiki" which means the science of
composing melodies. Arabic music or Arab music includes several genres and styles of music
ranging from Arabic classical to Arabic pop music and from secular to sacred music.
Origin of Arabic Music?
The Arabic music eventually originated during the Pre-Islamic period, with the help of Arabic
poetry. Arab poets of that period were known as “Jahili poets”, which, in English means, “The
poets of the period of ignorance”. These Jahili poets used to recite their poems in the high
musical rhythm and tone.
How old is Arabic Music?
Though the historians are unable to confirm the existence of Arabic music in the world, most of
them believe and agree that distinct forms of music existed in the Arabian peninsula between the
5th and 7th century AD, during the Pre-Islamic period.
In ninth century, the Arab scholar, “Al-Farabi” wrote a book on music, “Kitab Al-Musiqi Al-
Kabir”, in English means, the Great book of Music. He originated and played various musical
instruments and developed the Arab tone system of pitch organization, which is still practiced.
Music, during that era, played a crucial role in refining the charisma of exorcists and magicians.
It was assumed that Jinns revealed poems to poets and music to musicians. As a practice during
that time, the educated poets would recite their poems at the Choir, while singing was entrusted
to the women, also known as Al-Khansa. They would also play the instruments and then perform
the songs. Among thenotable songs of the period were the “huda” from which the nasb, sanad
and rukbani were derived.
Arabic Music was influenced by:
Though Arabic music is self-sufficient and very energetic, in the past, it has been influenced by
many other regional music styles and genres. Arabic music is influenced by the ancient Egyptian,
ancient Greek, Persian, Kurdish, Turkish, Indian, North African, Swahili, Assyrian and European
music.
Influence of Arabic Music on the world:
Many of the musical instruments used in western music are supposed to have originated from
Arabic musical instruments. For example: the rebec (violin) is derived from rebab, the lute from
oud, naker from naqareh, guitar from qitara, adufe from al-duff, the castanet from kasatan, al-
tinbal has derived atambal, exabeba from al-shabbaba, alboka from al-buq, anafil from al-nafir,
the shawm and dulzaina from the reed instruments zamr and al-zurna, the xelami was influenced
by fistula (musical pipe), the theorb from the tarab, so on and so forth.

2. Ankita Mehrotra
050 8985601
It is believed that the Solfège syllables such as do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti were derived from the
syllables of the Arabic solmization system Durr-i-Mufassal, english meaning Separated pearls,
dal, ra, mim, fa, sad, lam.
Various Genres of Arabic Music:
The famous singer, Abu Hassan Ali Ben Nafi, aka, Ziriab originated the complicated Andalusian
music structure. The lyrics are in Andalusian dialect, the classical arabic. It is xtremply
complicated in musical structure. Main instuments used in this genre are tar, a form of
tambourine; at times, darbuqa, a funnel shaped drum made of clay; rebab, kemanjah (a violin)
and the oud (a lute).
Aissawa, founded by Sidi Ben Aissa in 15th Century, comprises 16 musicians on bendir, taarija,
raita and n’far. This is considered to be the best Sufi genre of Morocco.
Chaabi in English meaning, “popular” or “of the people” is basically pop music with arab,
african and western influences. Arab pop began to develop in Egypt during mid 1960s often with
nationalist themes.
Griha is another popular Arabic music form. New songs are composed in this genre mainly
concerning love, war, adventure and very often including topical satire. In this form, colloquial is
used rather than the classical language.
Ra’I meaning “opinion” in Arabic mixes western technology with a traditional music line and
colloquial arabic vocals. It originated from Algeria.
Instruments of Arabic Music:
Musical instruments of the Arab world reflect the unity and diversity within the music itself.
Types of instruments, including end-blown reed flutes, fiddles, frame drums preponderate.
The ‘ud (a type of chordophone) typically from Egypt and the Levant, is a pear shaped, short
necked, fretless instrument.
The Nay is an open-ended, obliquely blown flute made of reed, that exhibit breathy tone, has
wide range of almost two and a half octaves. It also appears in some Sufi musical performances.
The urban ensemble, two percussion instruments are essential and may appear side by side. The
Darbukkah or the tablah is a vase-shaped hand-drum; the riqq, also called as daff is like a small
tambourine.
The most important instrument employed throughout this region is the Bedouin or the Rababah.
It is played with the horsehair bow. Rababah is the essential melody instrument of the nomadic
Bodouins.
The double reed instruments are also common.

3. Ankita Mehrotra
050 8985601
Arab Music and unity with rest of the world.
Today, traits contributing to unity in Arab music are numerous. These traits may not be
universally applicable, however, and their orientation and detailed features may differ from one
community to another. Furthermore, because of common historical backgrounds and
geographical and cultural proximity, many non-Arabs - particularly Turks and Persians - share
many of these traits, a fact that enables scholars to study the Near East as one broad musical area.
One aspect of unity in Arab music is the intimate connection between the music and the Arabic
language. This is demonstrated by the emphasis placed upon the vocal idiom and by the often
central role played by the poet-singer. Examples are the sha'ir, literally "poet," in Upper Egypt
and among the Syrian-Desert Bedouins, and the qawwal, literally "one who says," in the
Lebanese tradition of zajal, or sung folk-poetry. This link is also exemplified in the common
practice of setting to music various literary forms, including the qasidah and the muwashshah.