Arabic music

Arabic music represents the diverse musical styles and genres of the Arab world. It encompasses the sounds of many different peoples and cultures living across various regions. Because the Arab world contains many linguistic dialects, each country often maintains its own unique traditional music. This musical heritage is a vital way for communities to express their identity and shared history.

A central mechanism in this music is the maqam system. A maqam is a method used to organize musical tones and melodies. Musicians can apply the maqam system to both vocal singing and instrumental performances. Notably, the maqam system itself does not include a rhythmic component.

Instead, the maqam provides the melodic framework that guides the artist. This system allows for both structured compositions and creative improvisations.

Historically, the roots of this music stretch back to the pre-Islamic period. Between the 5th and 7th centuries AD, distinct musical forms existed on the Arabian Peninsula. During this era, poets known as shu`ara' al-Jahiliyah recited poems using high notes. It was even believed that Jinns revealed music to musicians and poems to poets. In Yemen, the Kings of Saba˙ provided patronage to musicians, making it a center for the arts. Singing was often performed by women with beautiful voices using instruments like the drum, the lute, or the rebab.

The early Islamic period saw significant scientific and theoretical growth. Al-Kindi, a theorist active between 801 and 873 AD, published works on musical theory. He identified twelve tones on the Arabic musical scale by observing finger placement on the oud. Other scholars like al-Farabi wrote influential books, such as Kitab al-Musiqa al-Kabir. In 1252, Safi al-Din created a unique notation system using geometric representations for rhythms. This method was quite advanced, as similar geometric rhythm graphs did not appear in the West until 1987.

By the 11th century, Islamic Iberia, or Al-Andalus, became a major center for making instruments. These instruments spread into France and eventually influenced the rest of Europe. Many English musical words actually come from Arabic origins. For example, the word "lute" comes from the Arabic oud, and "rebec" comes from the rebab. The modern guitar also has roots in the four-string oud, which the Moors brought to Iberia in the 8th century.

In the 20th century, Egypt became a global center for musical innovation. As nationalism grew, Cairo saw a shift toward national Egyptian music. Legendary singers like Umm Kulthum and Fairuz became icons of this era.

During the 1940s and 1960s, artists like Abdel Halim Hafez and Mohammed Abdel Wahab began incorporating Western instruments. This evolution led to the birth of Arabic pop by the 1970s. Arabic pop typically blends Western-style songs with Arabic lyrics and instruments, creating a mix of Eastern and Western melodies.

Arabic music has also left a lasting mark on Western genres. In the early 1960s, Arabic music influenced the development of surf music. Dick Dale, a Lebanese American guitarist, used oud melodies and skills on his electric guitar. This connection helped pave the way for garage rock and punk rock. Beyond pop, the Arabic rabab, or spiked fiddle, is the earliest known bowed string instrument. It is the direct ancestor of many European instruments, including the violin. This demonstrates how the musical traditions of the Arab world have connected with and shaped global music systems for centuries.