From: oueichek@imag.fr
Newsgroups: soc.culture.arabic
Subject: Re: History of Arabic Music
Date: 6 Apr 92 11:40:44 GMT
Distribution: soc.culture.arabic

jaa12@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu (John A Absood) writes:
: 
:      Yes, Arabic music has been strongly influenced by the ancient
: civilizations of the lands it conquered. For example, the Lute had
: originated in Ancient Egypt and this instrument was found in the
: tomb of Queen Hat-ship-sut. Of course this ancient lute has
: undergone much development as to yield the modern day OUD. Actually
: it is very fascinating that nomadic tribes in Ethiopia and Sudan
: are believed to still play a lute very similar to that of the 
: Ancient Egyptians. I have heard a few recordings of this and
: it is obvious that the range and possibilities of the lute have
: been greatly enhanced during the Arabic seizure of Egypt. Has
: anyone else heard these recordings??????
   I remember about a musician called Ishak Al Mouseli (from Al Mousel, in Iraq).
He was a Lute master, there is a story about him (a fake, of course) that once
he had played music that coudln't repeat again, and that Harun Al Rashid asked
him how he could write such a good music. Ishak answered that it was someone 
mistereous, who identified himself as "Abu murra" (for those who don't know,
Abu murra is the "popular" name of the devil, that's how he identified himself
for "Abu Jahle"). It was his student -Zeriab- who added a fifth chord to the
Lute, this one was obliged to immigrate to Andalus, (i don't know why, maybe
because of some religious problems, because Music had been considered as a
taboo for a long time, can't tell for sure). The sixth chord was added by a
Syrian musician if i remember quit well (i'll try to find his name).

    BTW, while we are speeking music, i've lost your old post, so i'll comment
from memory. I agree 100% with your comments about the importance of improvision
of our music. What i was trying to say is we MUST KEEP IT, it's a very important
part of our culture and music. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to develop
modern Arabic music. The problem is this sort of music needs very big talent,
among the young generation vocalists i can't see anyone able of singing this
way. Maybe George Wassouf (don't laugh, he HAS a great talent, he is one of the
few actual singers who can "oblige" me to say AAAAH, YA AINI).

    I think we must distinguish somehow between "modern Arabic music", and
"plastic stuff written in 5 minutes using synthesiser and electric guitare".
The Rahbanis, Abdel wahab, and such fall in the 1st category. In the second,
you'll find hundreds (and thousands) of bozos who deserve trial for the poison
they are trying to sell us.

    PS: For the net.musicamators (like myself), there will be a discussion about
    creating a new group for Arabic music. WE NEED YOUR PARTICIPATION, we
    need at least 100 positive votes to create the group, and i feel really
    anxious about the chances of this group to exist.

Regards. And keep coming the good stuff
-- 
Sham(u) ya tha (s)seif(u) lam yaghib(i) | Ibaa Oueichek. ouicheck@imag.imag.fr
    Ya jamal(al) majd(i) fi(l) kutub(i) | LABORATOIRE 	BULL-IMAG
Kablak(i) (t)tareekh(u) fi thulmaten    | Grenoble. 
    Baadak(i) staula ala (sh)shuhub(i)  |