Sponsored Post: Arab Heritage in Contemporary Music

posted on: Oct 2, 2024

Arab culture is known to be one of the oldest and richest. Art, literature, food, fashion, and of course music. All these elements have long been part of the cultural layer of the world. Despite the many difficulties and stereotypes that Arab creators have faced throughout history, there is no denying the uniqueness, originality, and great influence on the world. To explore this topic better, you can pay for essay to professional writers and choose one of 1000 possible topics related to the influence of Arab culture. 

Next, we will focus on music. Even though Hollywood movies of the late 20th century have ingrained a rather stereotypical image of Arab musicality in many people’s minds, Eastern music is much more diverse and richer, and Arab creators themselves have created world-famous works and influenced the work of world-famous composers and singers. Now, the unique style and approach to melody writing have led to this musical style topping the charts and being firmly entrenched in the position of trendy and current sound. 

Origins of Arabic Classical Music

The most basic characteristic of Arabic classical music is the modular system known as maqam. Maqam employs around 100 various structures on which melodies are based. Other primary characteristics of Arabic classical music are various forms of intricate rhythmic structures or, in simple terms, iqa.

Classical Arabic music also depends on the oud and kanun as typical traditional instruments. These can express some kind of style and mood of oriental music, which is recognizable from its very first notes. It is the core and foundation of all Arab musical history, which has spread across the world within these centuries. For example, the musical traditions of Arab-influenced Andalusia served as a bridge between Arab and European cultures.

Arabic Influence on World Classics

Finally, Arabic music has influenced much of the work of Western composers, particularly during the period of exoticism and the enormous surge in Arab culture and storytelling at the end of the 19th century. European composers often drew upon Arabic themes and composed their melodies to evoke the spirit of Eastern culture.

• One example of the influence of Arabic music on the Western classical tradition is Camille Saint-Saëns. He uses Eastern motifs inspired by his travels to North Africa in his work African Concerto for piano and orchestra. He has traveled a lot in Arab countries; his works reflect his interest in Arab culture.

• Another example would be The Desert by Félicien David, which is a symphonic oratorio with the inclusion of elements from Eastern music, depicting the atmosphere of the Arab world. Western composers also borrowed the exotic sounds and rhythms of Arabic music to create works from these stimuli that would blur cultural boundaries.

• Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov used Eastern musical motifs in his well-known Scheherazade, which was inspired by the Arabian tales of One Thousand and One Nights. Though Korsakov utilized more of a traditional Western audience’s perception of Arabic music, this piece’s popularity significantly contributed to the interest in actual and authentic Arabic musical works.

Development of Arabic Popular Music

In the 20th century, Arabic popular music gained worldwide fame and popularity. Taking traditional cultural motifs as a basis, artists added instruments and presentation styles to the works familiar to Western listeners. In this way, Arabic songs with a unique style became recognizable yet more understandable and familiar to Western listeners. One of the main figures in this process was the legendary Umm Kulsoom, whose work became a symbol of Arabic music in the early and mid-20th century.

 Later, this singer turned out to be considered by many as the most outstanding performer of all time. Fairouz and Abdel Halim Hafez were equally influential in establishing the sound of Arab pop and became popular music icons of the nation. Their songs followed typical Arabic rhythmic and modal system structures but were easily adapted into a more contemporary setting to appeal to a wider audience. 

Arabic Music and Modern Jazz

Arabic music also influences the jazz scene, as many musicians have tried to incorporate traditional Arabic music idioms into jazz during their performances. Among the jazzmen influenced by Arabic music was John Coltrane, who had an interest in Eastern philosophy and music. His search for new modal structures in compositions like “A Love Supreme” can be interpreted as an attempt at an integration of exotic elements, including Arabic modal systems, within his music.

Arabic Music and the Electronic Scene

Arabic motifs find their place in electronic music, too. Nowadays, DJs and producers look to Arabic rhythms and melodies for their specific compositions. One such example is the Lebanese musician Dabkeh, who uses Arabic folk rhythms in his electronic songs, thus making them both authentic and modern.

The use of Arabic samples has gained popularity within global electronic music. Many artists, such as Acid Arab, usually compose with Arabic vocals inside their pieces.

Arabic Motifs in Hip-Hop

Hip-hop as a culture has never been resistant to filling its tracks with all kinds of samples and just music in general. The 90s and the beginning of the 2000s saw the emergence of Arabic motifs in hip-hop. Probably, one of the most recognizable cases is those of artists implementing Arab heritage into hip-hop – in particular, the Iraqi-born Canadian rapper and producer Narcy.

It finds its place in the Arab countries in their pursuit of social and political change. El Rass and Malikah merge hip-hop with reflections on injustice and political change throughout the entire Arab world.

Conclusion

Arab music is much more than most people realize. It is not only the well-known motifs imposed by popular culture and Hollywood. Arab music is much deeper and more personal. It reflects the mood of the time period, conveys the spirit of the people, and, at the same time, tries to demonstrate novelty and dictate fashion to other genres. It is impossible to describe in one sentence or even in an article what Arabic music is and to talk about all the spheres of influence of this unique style.

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