The Arghul
Throughout history, the reed instruments including the Arghul, Jirba, Mijwiz, Mizmar, Mizward, Ney-anban, and Rhaita have evolved into a very distinct type of Arabic sound we hear today in the modern Middle East. While all of these instruments play an important and distinctive role in their respective musical cultures, however, the Arghul stands out as perhaps the most prominent of the reed instruments as it is perhaps the oldest in the Middle Eastern region, having been adapted by many different cultures in the greater Middle East. The Arghul has affected the musical tone, ceremonial occasions, and culture of the Middle East today. It’s essentially the instrument Europeans think of when they hear Arabic music.
The History of the Arghul and Its Impact on History
According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the Arghul’s origins hail as far back as 3000 BCE when the Ancient Egyptians used double reed instruments in many of their religious ceremonies. Since then, the Arghul has spread farther than the banks of the Nile, including a majority of the Middle East and Turkey. It is featured prominently in the traditional musical culture of Egypt, yet many variations of the Arghul exist in other regions, such as the Mizmar in Syria.
Perhaps one of the most important contributions to musical history is what’s called the drone pipe which spread from ancient Middle and Near East to the north to Europe, to the east to India, and to the south to Africa. A drone in music is a continuously sounded note or chord throughout the duration of the song. Since the Middle Eastern prevalence of the drone, many other musicians have adopted its usage into their own songs, including classical music and a lot of modern music today, including pop...
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...en of all ages, usually at festive occasions such as weddings. The Cifetetelli, while it features the violin more than the Arghul, still has that reedy, buzzing sound when played.
The Future of the Arghul
As the world seems to be adapting a unified culture due to globalization, one may wonder what the fate of a traditional instrument like the Arghul would be on a world stage. There’s no reason to worry though, as traditional folk music will always be around and the Arghul as well as other Middle Eastern reed instruments are a big part of that culture. The Arghul played a huge part in establishing the Middle Eastern musical identity and it will probably play a huge part in solidifying that identity for years to come. After all, the Arghul’s been around for around five thousand years; there’s no reason to believe it won’t remain around for another thousand more.
In Africa, music helps define its culture by expressing emotions through each song. Drums play a very important significance in African culture; they are always present in ceremonies such as births, deaths, and marriages along with a ritual dance. Ompeh is an organized system with many rules and is performed by recreational amateur ensemble of singers and percussionists. Maru-Bihag is loosely structured, performed only by experts, and is used more for entertainment. In India, the sitar instrument is taken very seriously; a student must apprentice with a master for 15-20 years before being allowed to play this
Miller, Terry E., Sharhriari, Andrew. World Music: A Global Journey. 3rd ed. New York & London: Routledge, 2012. Print.
It is believed that the Irish brought to the region the fiddle and the pipes. It is believed that the first stringed instrument, the dulcimer was brought by the Germans, Norwegians, Swedish and French. The dulcimer became known as the 1“Hog Fiddle” or “Music Box”.
Though the formation of our modern-day Concert Band does not date back quite as far as our modern-day Wind Ensemble, the extent of events, groups, composers, and advancements is quite similar. The evolution of the Concert Band dates back to the French Revolution. Large bands, full of unique instruments and amateur musicians, were required to play at festivals and ceremonies. Similar to the evolution of the Wind Ensemble, the Concert Band is derived from military purposes. Instruments, such as the trumpets, horns, and drums, were often used for signaling. In contrast to Wind Ensemble musicians, these Concert Band musicians never played their instruments for military enjoyment. The Concert Band musicians primarily played instruments to signal to the guards and villages. There were a few unique instruments, however, that were desired to play a military tune. These instruments include instruments such as a flute or bagpipe. Throughout the Middle Ages, this difference in military preference led to different job opportunities. For example, a cavalry company required trumpets, horns, and trumpets. On the other hand, foot soldiers would hire flute and bagpipe
It is a common notion that for music to be able to traverse and grow within different soundscapes, music must go through a form of migration. There are two different forms of migration that have been seen throughout the world’s history. The first form of migration is called Voluntary Migration. Voluntary Migration is a movement in which a group of people agree to leave their region for their own personal benefits, whether they be focused around religious or economic opportunities. Given these positive opportunities, cultures can thrive and grow and
Miller, Terry, and Andrew Shahriari. World Music: A Global Journey. New York, London: Routledge Taylor and Francis Group, 2006.
The Use of Electronic Technology in 20th and 21st Century Music In this essay, I have examined the use of electronic technology within 20th and 21st Century music. This has involved analysis of the development and continuing refinement of the computer in today’s music industry, as well as the theory of the synthesiser and the various pioneers of electronic technology, including Dr. Robert Moog and Les Paul. Also within the essay, I have discussed the increasing use of computers in the recording studio. The computer has become an indispensable tool in ensuring that both recording and playback sound quality is kept at the maximum possible level. Many positive ideas have come from the continued onslaught of computerisation.
Music is a part of everyday life for almost everyone in the world. Music provides us with enjoyment and relaxation, and can be used in many ways by many different people. Some may use it to calm down after a long, hard day, while others use it for religious purposes or still others in and attempt to try and forget something that hasn’t been favorable to them. The possibilities are endless, for music is one language that can be transmitted to all people of the world, no matter their nationality, and it can be understood by everyone. Tibet is no different than any other place in the world, as it has music that serves the purpose of the people who live there. While most music in Tibet is religious, secular music still exists and is still a part of life there. Tibetan music has played an important role in shaping who the Tibetan people have become today by giving themselves different ways to express who they are, through the use of differing instruments and styles of music, and has allowed other people from around the world the opportunity to look at Tibetan culture through their music.
“How Musical is Man?” was published in 1974. This book was written by John Blacking, a musician turned social anthropologist. His goal in writing this ethnography, and several other papers during this same time period, was to compare the experience of music-making that takes place within different cultures and societies throughout the world. In this book, he discusses and describes the musicology of the Venda people in South Africa. Though he does go to Africa to research and learn about the Venda people and their music, he specifically states that his book is “not a scholarly study of human musicality” (ix), but rather it is a summary (written from his point of view), which is both expressive and entertaining, of several different issues and ideas that he has seemingly been contemplating for some time.
Music has shaped the lives of people throughout history. Even in its earliest forms, music has included use of instruments. One of the oldest musical instruments known is a variation of the flute; the original flute is thought to date back nearly 67,000 years ago. Tonight we are going to move throughout the eras with a history of instrumental music. This concert will begin with the Renaissance Era and continue through time until we have reached modern instrumental music.
Tuvan instruments like the igill. The Chiraa-Koor section was particularly interesting, because of the complex relationship between the Tuvan cowboy sound from the instruments and the consistency of their voices, a mixture of xöömei, overtone singing, and simple sounds. The entirety of the sound is one of travel and adventure, just like Cowboys in America. In that way a very foreign culture becomes to feel familiar. In general, the a
The book America’s Musical Landscape starts by looking back to early North American Music from the American Indians, to the religious and non religious music of the European and African settlers. According to the book “Native American music was and is song, sometimes supported by instruments.”1 The Native American used different types of instruments to accompany their songs or chants such as the drums, flute and rattles. Like music for us today the Native Americans used music in all different aspects of their lives. The early European settlers br...
Music is found in every know culture, past and present. It is also, already being composed for the future. It is widely varied between all times and places. Since scientists believe that the modern humans arrived in the African culture more than 160,000 years ago, around 50,000 years ago, it is believed that the dispersal of music has been being developed between all cultures in the world. Even the most isolated tribal groups are thought to have had a form of music.
The mizmar’s double reed is made from a plant in the desert and Bedouins called hagna. The body of the mizmar is made from a wooden pipe called Iaseq. A smaller percussion that is used by a stick to play the drums another instrument being used is what a tambourine and a very large percussion that is strapped to the body. Sometimes the medium sized percussions will consist of the tambourines attached to the sides of the instruments so when being used it will make two sounds at once one being the drum and the other being the tambourine part. The other two percussions being used are flat and are being use by the hand to produce
Throughout the semester, various styles of music and the aspects of culture associated with these styles have been analyzed. Musical elements such as dynamics, texture, form, timbre, melody, instruments, etc., have been used to thoroughly explore each kind of music from different areas of the world, with an emphasis in music from Africa, India and Indonesia. These aspects of music go far beyond just music itself. Culture also plays a huge role in music and the accompanying musical elements. Each country and culture has a different style and distinctiveness that add to what makes the music of that certain culture unique. Music in Africa may differ dramatically from music in Indonesia or India not only due to those certain elements but also due to how it is interpreted by people and what it represents for those people. In addition to this, what one may consider music in one culture may not be music to another. These differences have been made apparent in the several demonstrations that we have been exposed to in class.